$250,000 military death benefit proposed

Houston Chronicle ^ | Jan. 31, 2005

[ambrose]

Wow, Bush has finally found something to spend money on besides AIDS in Africa.

[Terabitten]

So the family of a KIA soldier would recieve a half-million dollars. Make it tax-free, Dubya, and I'll go for it.

[glock rocks]

This is right. Cut back somewhere, anywhere else. But this is right, AND cut back somewhere else.

[grania]

Cut back somewhere, anywhere else

Write a budget with this as the first item...then figure out what's left.

[Big Horn]

It never did make sense to me to pay the 9-11 victims families that much money, but the people in uniform very much deserve all they will receive.

[livius]

I think this is a great idea. I have always felt bad that the death benefit was so measly.

I'm sure we can cut the money out of some stupid grant for research on the non-existent jumping mouse or some such thing.

[F16Fighter]

High Time.

Moreover, I say sweeten the pot by diverting $14b of that original $15b earmarked for African "AIDS" aid.

[From many - one.]

Way overdue.

[Howlin]

Wow, Bush has finally found something to spend money on besides AIDS in Africa.

Oh, please.

[PISANO]

Right now this entire package would have cost our Government about 700 Million. Insignificant in terms of our National Budget and imminently deserved by the next of kin of our Troops who pay the ultimate price.

[ken5050]

I want to toss out something for the group. Fully in support of the increased DB..but as a retired CFP,I know most young people wdiows and kids.. who get that much money usually screw it up..get bad advise, or taken advantage of...It the DB were raised to, for example $500k..95% of the families getting benefits would be far better off if they got $50k for 12 years..allows for the time value of money...Insurance companies have learned thius lesson well.. They iused to deliver to the beneficiary a check for the proceeds..NOW they put the $$ into a money market account, and give the beneficiary a checkbook. It avoids the need to feel they have to do something ASAP. I don't want to sound like a do-gooder, one who knows what's best for people...nor to denigrated our military and their survivors...but human nature being what it is..look..as an example..a study of lottery winners showed that over 60% of them end up broke within 10 years..

welcome your comments..

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Yes, let the new Economical giant, China, splurge and contribute to the African disaster...Oh - what was China's contribution to the Tsunami?

[goodnesswins]

Not a bad idea....kind of like an annuity?

[Lazamataz]

$250,000 military death benefit proposed

I lost a GI Joe doll to the terrorists.

Can I at least get a grand?

[1john2 3and4]

Great idea...can't think of a reason it wouldn't fly, unless it's too nanny-like...?

a study of lottery winners showed that over 60% of them end up broke within 10 years.

So what do you do now? :)

[jocon307]

"welcome your comments.."

That would be fine. I certainly support the increase. Maybe one could get the life insurance pay-out up front and the death benefit over some years. It's probably hard to get regular life insurance when you're in the military, eh?

He should do this and shout it from the rooftops for publicity's sake.

[FreeRep]

My God Bless Our Troops, God Bless America and God Bless Our President.

[benice]

I agree....all that money to the 9-11 people was a horrible precedent and flat out wrong! I have no idea why they did that..........but the military deserve it.

[benice]

If this gets passed however, I am almost positive that the people today of their KIA family members will want this retroactive to 9-11.