A note on recent news matters

[ellisonz]

Just going to put this out there: Killing an insurance executive won’t lead to any major changes or structural reforms to how healthcare, much less health insurance, is provided in this country. So while I get that violence is an attractor for many people, and the wealthy are quite hated, I for one am not going, “Wow, this is amazing.” Violence simply isn’t the answer.

[Tommy Carcetti]

1. Should be obvious. nt

[ellisonz]

2. Most definitely!

[Mark.b2]

30. It shouldnt have to be said, but the last few days make it clear it has to be. nt

[Irish_Dem]

3. Most people do not think violence is the answer.

If your premise was correct then all the insurance executives would already be dead.
And all the others who lie, cheat, scam, kill Americans would be dead.

The anger expressed is about some modicum of justice being served.
Not that it is the final answer to our problems.

We do not have rule of law or a fair system.
The anger is about that.

[ck4829]

4. This is all about discovery. Let's find out what works though

Doing nothing

Voting and hoping politicians do the right thing

Just paying fraudulent medical bills and living day to day like nothing is wrong

Saying “I don’t know...”

Killing insurance executives

[Silent Type]

5. Good to see you posting. Totally agree. I'm disgusted with the cheers for shooting someone in the back.

[ellisonz]

9. I've been very busy doing journalism. Most importantly including about the people living on the streets of Los Angeles.

Sadly, despite street deaths actually going up here, people are more convinced than ever that helping the homeless is pointless.

[Ocelot II]

6. Brian Thompson has become an avatar for the health insurance industry,

and his killing created a focus for the public's rage toward its predatory practices. Of course nobody should be murdered in cold blood, regardless of how harmful his business practices might be. However much a particular person might symbolize the excesses of a business, no one is entitled to appoint himself judge, jury and executioner of that person; Thompson's killer should be arrested and tried for murder. The real problem is that regardless of how immoral and harmful UHC's and other health insurers' practices are (and how immoral Thompson and other executives might be for implementing and supporting them), we have a health care payment system that preys on people's illnesses and injuries and it's perfectly legal.

The insurance industry, especially health insurance, is parasitic - and it's largely unregulated, and it has enough money and enough lobbyists to make sure it stays that way. The ACA improved the situation slightly but not nearly enough, because our Congress didn't want to derail the insurers' gravy train and had little incentive to do so. Killing off a few CEOs won't change a thing; they will be replaced by more CEOs with the same incentive to maximize profits at the expense of their captive customers by delaying claim reimbursements or denying coverage altogether. Maybe Thompson's murder will help focus the public's anger enough to get Congress to regulate these pirates, but I wouldn't count on it. Money doesn't just talk; it shouts more loudly than anything else.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. Thanks. That's why I'm not planning on killing anybody.

[H2O Man]

8. Recommended.

"But when you talk about destruction
don't you know that you can count me out"
-- John Lennon, Revolution

"The movement you need
is on your shoulders"
-- Paul McCartney, Hey Jude

There was a reason these two songs were issued on a 45.

[ellisonz]

10. BOOM!

[republianmushroom]

11. Thoughts and prays doesn't seem to do much good either.

[Scrivener7]

12. You are correct. But it sure has spurred a conversation about how unnecessary insurance companies are.

[Tetrachloride]

13. one dead is bad. Covid deaths are a statistic

blood leads in the news

[Arazi]

14. Thompson is a mass murderer

I fully expect his executioner will be caught and prosecuted.

Nobody expects this assassination to change anything.

Multiple things can be true at once

[surfered]

15. There are a lot of assumptions being made based on too few facts.

[pfitz59]

16. This is America

Land of 400 million guns. Violence surrounds us. Our history glorifies it. Our very anthem blazes it before every sporting event. Our national pastime, football, is ritualized combat. While violence is NOT the answer in a utopia, we are never far from it in our broken reality.

[AntiFascist]

17. The media should be focusing on what has happened recently in South Korea...

an excellent example of the power of the people and democracy without resorting to violence. Keep in mind that the next US administration may try to do the same, as far as declaring martial law.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-president-yoon-declares-martial-law-2024-12-03/

[ellisonz]

22. I write about Los Angeles, but mostly no one gives a crap.

[TBF]

18. OK, tell us what will work though - just waving your pearls around isn't the most helpful.

I happen to agree with you, despite the killer's nice smile.

But let's talk about "structural reform". What would that look like for you?

Personally, I am in favor of single payer for all Americans. Guess what, we'll tax billionaires to pay for it. You will never convince me that 3-4 people owning 75% of the worth of this country is a good idea while everyone else is dying. I want single-payer now, we could even use the current Medicare as a starting point so that billing is simplified. No opt outs - you get your social security card at birth & it's also your basic health insurance card. We can hem & haw about what's covered - that would give Congress something productive to do. Current "insurance" could become private companies that folks go to if they choose for above & beyond coverage (sort of like umbrella coverage).

[ellisonz]

23. I'm not sure anyone even really knows what Kamala's health reform plan was...

The next Democratic candidate better run on that, because it's a winning issue.

[TBF]

24. Not really what I asked, but I'll accept that as an answer

because it's a good start. I have my ideas, and I'm certain others do as well. Would love to hear them!

[Hekate]

25. Except when it isn't. Dems keep trying on all the best issues. We try.

[usonian]

19. If violence is not the answer, we can do without a defense department and all guns.

You see, it's entirely asymmetrical.

Wilhoit's law.

Frank Wilhoit: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”

"Thou shall not kill" means "Thou shall not kill"

But the amendments and exceptions ...

Found this today.



Rescue? Then why the armor plate and gun ports?

Peace. 🪷

[ck4829]

20. Right? And Kamala Harris wasn't saying "most non-lethal fighting force" either

[usonian]

21. Pervasive, isn't it?

The next few years are going to be the best of times and worst of times for pacifists.

[Hekate]

26. So my husband, who does all our insurance negotiations & knows the hazards, was appalled at the public reaction...

I told him of the personal stories at DU —I said people are in real pain. But it was when I passed him the article in the New Yorker — well he read it all the way through saying “Oh My God” at every sentence.

We are okay because he still has a company plan at 77 and he is meticulous and obsessive And also lucky. We have dear friends who are not. I think his OMG reaction was because he didn’t realize just how bad it is in this benighted country. It is that bad

[Cirsium]

27. Correct

Killing an insurance executive won’t lead to any major changes or structural reforms to how healthcare, much less health insurance, is provided in this country. You are right about that.

However, the discussion that was triggered by that even most definitely can lead to major changes.

That discussion is not about whether "violence is the answer," it is not about gun violence, it is not about the murder at all. The discussion is about the system. It is about income and wealth inequality. It is about access to healthcare. It is about Wall Street's control over everything. It is about life and death for millions of struggling people.

[Think. Again.]

32. ⬆⬆⬆THIS⬆⬆⬆

[WarGamer]

28. oh but some get their rocks off at victimhood of "the other"

[yardwork]

29. History suggests otherwise.

No guarantee, of course, but single assassinations have changed the course of history. One started WWI.

We have no way of knowing.

[Think. Again.]

31. But hasn't the increase in public discourse on insurance industry malfeasance...

....BEEN WONDERFUL!?!