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UHC CEO’s Slaying Highlights Widespread Rage at Healthcare Industry
www.democracynow.orgNew York prosecutors have charged a suspect with murder for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down in Midtown Manhattan on December 4. The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who was captured in Pennsylvania on Monday after a five-day nationwide search. Police say Mangione was found with a handwritten manifesto, which they have not released. Although little is known about the motive for Thompson’s killing, there has been an outpouring of rage on social media directed at the health industry, with many sharing stories of having claims for vital care denied and losing precious time with loved ones during illness. Former healthcare executive Wendell Potter, now an advocate for reform, says the anger being expressed now has always been “barely below the surface” and was one of the reasons he left the industry. “I couldn’t, in good conscience, continue to support an industry that … established themselves firmly between a patient and his or her doctor,” says Potter. “What we’re seeing, sadly, in some form or fashion probably was inevitable.”
We also speak with Derrick Crowe of the People’s Action Institute, which runs the Care Over Cost campaign, helping people fight back against health insurance claims denials. “These corporations have too much power in this country. They are blocking progress on issues like gun violence and on the epidemic of care denials in this country, either through prior authorizations or through claims denials,” says Crowe.
Yes, rage. So much rage they either don’t show up to vote or vote against universal healthcare candidates. Can you feel the rage?
You’re assuming they’re rational actors. I can tell you, with experience, there are people who hate the healthcare insurance industry and are too propagandized / stupid to actually do the things needed to change it.
The vast majority of people think voting will change the paradigm, don’t understand their electoral system, and absolutely do not want to learn. It has nothing to do with if they hate the industry or not.
I’m not assuming they are rational. In fact the evidence is quite clear that they aren’t. Voting in the first place, and voting for pro universal healthcare candidates would make them more rational.
Yes I can. You can’t? How about giving even more taxpayer money to corrupt healthcare companies without improving care? Can you rage at that?
Framing!
That rage is useless if you don’t show up to the voting booth and vote for candidates that want to change the situation for the better. Voter participation is shit for local, state, and federal elections - most people only care about presidential elections, but those are too late. And still only 60% show up to vote.
That rage gets people to vote for the populist. Trump. The rest of the populace is tired, I guess. Or satisfied with whatever happens. Idk, the statements are all over the place.
You are exactly right that participation is on a very low level. Still the question remains, why? I can only guess. Or listen to lemmings that yell “because they are all racist/misogynist/subhuman/…”, but I’d rather not.
Name one candidate on the presidential ballot that was going to get universal Healthcare made lol.
The rational subset of opposition to Sanders was that he was going to leverage the full authoritarian powers of the Executive to force further socialization of healthcare and education. The long term accumulation of power in the Executive office is why the office of President is now much more important than it once was.
Bernie was there for a long time. Also, presidential elections are not the only elections! There are all kinds of local, state, and federal elections that also influence the presidential election. With those kinds of elections have participation rates of under 40%, you ain’t changing much.