General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYou and your loved ones have likely participated in systems of oppression. I hope you are never the target of violence.
Are you or a loved one a police officer, judge, or lawyer? Because our judicial system has undeniably caused undue pain, suffering, and death for millions. Apparently, according to the new rules, you better watch your back.
American foreign policy has undoubtedly resulted in millions of deaths over the course of many years. Have a relative who has served in the military? Are they fair game? Going by the logic I've seen from many liberals this week, why should we mourn one death when our military has caused the death of millions of innocent civilians? Going to miss your slain family member at Christmas? Fuck 'em, right?
I can hear it now: "No, those are different. Brian Thompson is the head of the company."
But where does that end? The board of directors? Doctors and pharmacists in United's network?
Our healthcare system is indeed broken. But to resort to murder (and gun violence, no less, which our side is supposed to abhor) suggests that we think some humans are unredeemable. No takebacks or chance for growth. No chance that the person you hate could someday see the light. Nope--"I have back pain and you must die." End of discussion.
I want to live an undivided life in the sense that my political views are inseparable from who I choose to be. The same traits of compassion that lead me to want a universal health care system are the same traits that lead me to see murder for the vile action it is.
Skittles
(159,940 posts)an execution without due process is FASCISM
Silent Type
(7,140 posts)solutions.
The cheering for Luigi Robinhood makes me concerned about any MFer on the street, and Im just some more retired than semi-retired Social Security dependent that shouldnt have to worry about crazy Unabombers, Charles Mansons, Timothy McVeigh, David Koreschs, and Luigis.
Agree with Fetterman and Shapiro on this one.
I do hope this gets Congress off their collective rears to get something meaningful done.
It doesnt have to be perfect, and for all I care call it trumpcare. It just has to be significantly better.
LudwigPastorius
(10,956 posts)Chances are that some of those espousing Luigi Mangione as a hero are fractional stockholders in UnitedHealthcare.
If you have money in a total stock market index fund, you should be experiencing cognitive dissonance, because that dead UHC CEO was doing his fiduciary duty to make you money.
Very few people living in a capitalist system have clean hands. It's just a fact.
regnaD kciN
(26,615 posts)...which has been promoted as the solution to a supposedly-broken system by the entertainment industry for decades. In that dark world-view, justice is impossible to find by working through institutions, so the only solution is for the lone crusader to pull out a gun and summarily execute the "bad guys" him- (or, occasionally, her-)self.
The only difference between this guy and the "subway shooter" is that we feel hatred in our own hearts toward a health insurance CEO as opposed to a handful of lower-class African-American teens, the way all too many white people felt in the 1980s.
But keep in mind, there are likely just as many people who feel, say, AOC or Bernie Sanders is evil and deserve death. Or, for that matter...you.