A new book by the Kenneth R. Feinberg, the chief dispenser of the 9/11 fund, discusses the ethical and political problems that he faced while doing his job.

From the Times:

“Never before had a government offered individuals millions of dollars in tax-free compensation for a tragic loss,” Mr. Feinberg writes. “And never before had government funds been so unregulated. There was no earmarked congressional appropriation limiting the size of awards or constraining my discretion. My budget was unlimited; the payouts would be determined only by my personal judgment and experience.” In the end, Mr. Feinberg would award more than $7 billion to 5,560 victims and family members.

He points out my pet peeve about how the money was handed out. The wives of firemen got a whole lot less than the wives of stockbrokers. They determined the worth of a life based on earning potential. Feinberg now believes that this was a mistake.