The assassin was a progressive/socialist intensely dissatisfied with the fact that insurance companies deny claims; or that they refuse to authorize certain tests or treatments.
And since the shooting took place, we have been hearing about how “broken” the healthcare system is.
This is all very interesting. After all, it was 10-15 years ago that Obamacare became law and was implemented. At the time, it was maintained that it was necessary to fix our broken healthcare system. It was hailed as a major achievement.
Since then, of course, costs have further exploded. When the lefties complain about our broken healthcare system, they are implicitly admitting that Obamacare failed.
In fact, Obamacare at that point was only the most recent in a long series of measures by the federal government to meddle in the healthcare marketplace. They all have failed.
When we hear people describe our healthcare system as broken in response to the United Healthcare shooting, think back to all the promises made– and all the perceptions created– regarding Obamacare.
By the way, I seem to recall that United Healthcare itself was a big supporter of Obamacare, and in fact, that its executives at that time helped with Obama’s fundraising.
Yes, the system is broken, but because of reasons that have nothing to do with the progressive/ socialist talking points.
The term ” Healthcare System ” covers a wide swath of parts. Some are working just fine while others are lagging . If the will is there then congress will do away with Obamacare.
I hope so, Fred. But somehow, I doubt that will happen given the nature of the Republican majorities in both houses. It has not even been a talking point for Trump during the election campaign, by the way. There is a great deal about the federal government’s intervention in health care markets, dating back to the 1940’s, that needs to be unraveled.
Online and social media reactions to the killing ranged from contempt and mockery towards Thompson and UnitedHealth Group, to fawning sympathy and praise for the assailant. ( some hate filled ). This idolatry is typified by Taylor Lorenz ( https://x.com/i/status/1866270604187386219 ) More broadly, social media users criticized the U.S. healthcare system, and many users characterized the killing as deserved or justified. These attitudes were related to anger over UnitedHealth’s business practices and those of the United States health insurance industry in general – primarily the strategy to deny coverage to clients. In particular, Thompson’s death was compared to the harm or death experienced by clients who were denied coverage by insurance companies. Public officials offered condolences to Thompson’s family and condemned the killing. Inquiries about protective services and security for CEOs and corporate executives surged following the killing.
Mangione’s family was wealthy and could afford the best treatment.
The police say that, when Mangione was arrested, he was in possession of a short ‘manifesto’, declaring that ‘These parasites had it coming’. ‘I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done’, it reportedly says.
The young man was sick, Fred, but in fact this mental illness pervades through significant portions of the progressive/ socialist community.