The worst thing that can happen to a parent occurred near here a couple weeks ago.
Mother and father and two kids were leaving a house when a drunken young buck came tearing down the street in a Mustang GT, slid off the street, into the yard taking out a couple of mailboxes, ran into mother and child, killing the 6-year-old girl, who was coming home from a play date. Mother was thrown into the air, but suffered no lasting injuries and refused treatment.
Next day, the dad says that he doesn't have money for a proper funeral, so a number of internet-age funding sites went up. He is a popular local fellow, chief of the local VFD, auto body mechanic, well-liked.
And it appears that something more than a hundred grand has been raised for this family.
Hmmm.
Unspeakable personal tragedy aside, let's look at the financial side of it.
The driver was personally judgment proof but had the mandatory liability insurance, so the family will quickly collect the $20 thousand or whatever it is. Maybe they will also sue Ford Motor Company, the young man's mother, whoever.
But they suffered no FINANCIAL loss. Losing a kid - bad as that is - is not a financial loss; it's a financial windfall. No upkeep, no college tuition, no clothing, no cellphone, car, no nothing.
This money that's raised through "social media" gives me the creeps. Making money off your kid's death?
Eewwww.
Mother and father and two kids were leaving a house when a drunken young buck came tearing down the street in a Mustang GT, slid off the street, into the yard taking out a couple of mailboxes, ran into mother and child, killing the 6-year-old girl, who was coming home from a play date. Mother was thrown into the air, but suffered no lasting injuries and refused treatment.
Next day, the dad says that he doesn't have money for a proper funeral, so a number of internet-age funding sites went up. He is a popular local fellow, chief of the local VFD, auto body mechanic, well-liked.
And it appears that something more than a hundred grand has been raised for this family.
Hmmm.
Unspeakable personal tragedy aside, let's look at the financial side of it.
The driver was personally judgment proof but had the mandatory liability insurance, so the family will quickly collect the $20 thousand or whatever it is. Maybe they will also sue Ford Motor Company, the young man's mother, whoever.
But they suffered no FINANCIAL loss. Losing a kid - bad as that is - is not a financial loss; it's a financial windfall. No upkeep, no college tuition, no clothing, no cellphone, car, no nothing.
This money that's raised through "social media" gives me the creeps. Making money off your kid's death?
Eewwww.
