I can’t believe this still needs to be said in 2024: there is never any justification for violence or murder, whether it’s against a health insurance company CEO or a political opponent. Violence is never the answer.
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I think anyone who fucks around will find out. I’m not condoning it, but I know that actions have consequences. Human beings can only take so much. And when justice is unequal between classes, and when bad people keep coming out on top, there is bound to be violence because that’s all that’s left
Disagree completely. We as a nation celebrated when Osama Bin Laden was killed. This guy is indirectly responsible for more deaths and provided more grief to American families than Osama was/did and it should be celebrated that he can no longer feed on the American public.
For a tweeter account that has stoked outrage against Trump for the last 3 election cycles to now tell us what is and isn’t appropriate is kind of condescending. It’s 2024, use an AI text tool to reword your posts before you hit send.
What about in self-defense? Like if an insurance company promises the generic price of an inhaler ($25) until you go to the pharmacy. Then they don’t honor the generic drug and tell you that you have to pay $450 for the non-generic. + the $800 premium. Without it you can’t breathe. Then what?
Totally agree, now let's talk about whether those in charge of insurance companies, who withhold - by any means possible - from paying out on essential/justifiable life saving treatment that the non-recipients don't get and die because they can't afford the treatment, at what point are they 1/2
They were knowingly murdering people daily by knowingly allowing their 90% error rate AI to make life and death decisions about human beings. Serious question - At what point does it become self-defense?
I am curious, as a republican, did you support the death penalty? I know there are differences in the situations, but you have made a blanket statement so I think it is a fair question. The question could also apply to the gulf war, did you support it? How about the killing of Bin Laden?
Finally, what would have been the answer? A CEO sets up a policy or plan that results in real life harm and death for people. How should they be held accountable? We know from prior experience that corporate criminal liability is a joke. Look at the opioid deaths, the company got fined.
So many died and nobody was held accountable. Their actions were intentional. The same is true for nicotine. I suspect we will have the same with vaping. Lastly, COVID is another example. Trump lied and people died. There is no accountability for the rich and corporations. Why is anybody shocked
Be that as it may, when you have "insurance" companies willing to let you suffer or die to save a buck or two AND you have politicians trying to introduce laws that literally fuck over/kill the poor, women, & people of color AND demand you sit back & take it, what other options are there?
Deliberate inaction (for massive profit, no less) is also 'violence'. See Trump's COVID 'response' as an additional example. Consequence-free mass murder.
Your position may change drastically when soldiers are ordered by trump to start forcefully rounding up "volunteers" to work the farms that are going to be abandonned after he deports the workers.
I believe most people care as much about this man’s death, as this CEO and lobbyist care about the thousands of people who’ve died due to greed and inhumane practices. & clearly the media cares a great deal more for catching this assassin than they do for regular citizens victimized by crime daily.
Do they think people are justifying murder? What I hear are a lot of people w/ the same empathy as the CEO had in denial of healthcare coverage to customers in need. The difference may be hard to perceive, but there is a difference.
So,sir what answers have you proposed to lessen the effect of oligarchs ownership of our housing, media, healthcare, schools, food sources, oil/natural resources ?
Unfortunately, violence takes many forms. Is not intimidation a form of violence? The passive application of force? If so, what else can you define denial of service as, if not violence, especially when it results in death? Vigilantism is a result of violence so violence resulted in violence.
Violence has no place in civil society, but the moral failures of our systems are violent and will result in violence. Fix the problems with the distribution of wealth namely poverty and debt slavery. There will be no need for vigilantism. You ever hear of Robin Hood?
Perhaps, but there is a corresponding truism: Actions have consequences. People tend to constantly seek advantage without responsibility or accountability. The latter can sometimes become messy, as we have witnessed.
An unrealistic, Pollyanna view; here in the real world, iolence should be avoided when possible, of course, but it becomes necessary when people are oppressed and/or disenfranchised & all other means of protest have failed.
Oh really? Were ppl protesting this company? Outside their offices? The guy walked up and shot the CEO in the back. Maybe knock his teeth out? Scare the shit out of him…but kill him? C’mon.
Thousands of people every year die being denied coverage. And the people doing it make fat bank. It's already violent. It's already terrorizing and violent on a daily basis. Where is the outrage over the normalization of murdering people for money on an institutional level?
Nah. It’s that “we go high” attitude that lost the election. You either fight fire with fire or you lose the next election too. All rules are void to the other side if you hadn’t noticed.
In a normal and stable society I agree, I will say unfortunately that with immense pressure on the working people who lose rights and (as with denied medical services for profits) people are injured or die, it will force the oppressed to resort to violence. Voices and political power are lost.
For-profit health insurance is violence and murder on an industrial scale. If a new CEO of another health insurance company was dropped each week until we get M4A, I wouldn't shed a single tear over them.
Quite frankly the level of greed that will be going on in Washington when Trump takes over will be off the scale.
One has to wonder what will be inscribed on the bullets of many… (Elon & the many other miscreants) that promote & prop-up the corrupt Orange Turd at the expense of poorer Americans.
I will say that Dante’s specific concepts were questionable. Case in point: In the deepest part of hell Satan’s 3 faces are consuming 3 men. Judas Iscariot, Cassius & Brutus. Judas I can understand. But Cassius & Brutus stabbed Julius Caesar… a dictator. They were hero’s of the Republic in my mind.
32% claim denial rate is highest in the industry and 2x average. UHC has been administrative murdering ppl for profit for years by denying care. Murder by violence isn't worse than murdering ppl by denying health care.
The healthcare system is broken. UHC is the worst of the lot. There is no place for people to turn to. Desperate people do desperate things. Too bad more energy wasn’t spent on shaming the greed rather than shaming the people who are angry because the greed is ruining/ending lives of too many
There is not a justification, but clearly everyday folks are getting extremely frustrated with being powerless and having health insurance companies make deadly denials out of greed and lack of compassion for loved ones. When there is no normal recourse, violence can ensue.
Please take the public outrage into consideration. This needs to be understood by any heath organization. Absolutely NO ONE is doing anything about this. So people are speaking up. Let em be mad.
How about repealing HMO1973 that switched nonprofit medical care to an insanely profitable industry across the board! No incentive to cure anything when unhealthy people are required to profit from.
1) I’ve been extra-enthusiastically paying my taxes to send artillery shells to Ukraine?
2) It’s wrong Thompson got murdered, and most of us aren’t endorsing murder, we’re feeling indifferent, cause we think kids with cancer shouldn’t be denied or delayed coverage.
It’s starting to feel like we can’t get justice any other way. If these 💩were held accountable to begin with, this wouldn’t happen. But when justice does not prevail, you leave people feeling like there is no other option. The rich are never held accountable.
I don’t condone the behavior, but if you look at the big picture, we continue to see the high and mighty held to a completely different standard than everyone else which certainly creates animosity which can easily lead to violence.
By this logic america should have never fought for its independence from Britain.
Violence is sometimes the only option against certain types of oppressors. I'm not advocating for the shooter but it's bullshit to absolve this ceo of the deaths he's caused. No one cares unless it's an oligarch
Oh please. What hypocrisy. If you've been a Republican in the last 30 years you are perfectly fine with violence and murder. Can we talk about Iraq? Afghanistan? Libya? School shootings in the US?
You are so right. But the negativity that has come out of this again shows how inept our Healthcare system is. No one should die being refused care. We think we are the greatest country yet we are so far behind.
As horrible as it is, there is a positive. People are enraged reading some of the post from people who have been denied care. I do believe there will be a movement for change.
Your not wrong but your not right ether. context is also important. This happened because of a lack of consequences they engineered to occur at our expense. They knew this could have happened and still went down this road. What they have done is Evil and its not fair to demand people feel remorse.
Sadly the only way to get through to some of these people is violence, they don't give a shit when it happens to us but when it happens to them they may change the way they do things
Violence is sometimes the only option, such as fighting back against oppressors in a system rigged in favour of those oppressors - many examples around the world
He probably had one of the highest body counts in the United States. Bin Laden deserved to die and so do people like this until they stop killing people.
I can’t believe we still need to say denying life saving care while raking in billions in profits doesn’t lead to sorrow over the life of said ceo. NOONE is going to make us feel bad for our apathy of his death.
People who harm other people especially for money deserve the wrath of the people. Quit playing oh, oh this is wrong bullshit. How long do you people think this was going to go on? No fucks given here
Well why haven’t lawmakers done anything about this and other problems? The people are tired of this shit. For years both parties have sucked the wealthy under the table. Violence is never the answer until it’s the only answer. Now you’re bitching.
Very true that violence is never the answer.
Still, it’s hard to feel ANY sympathy for the death of a man who put in place company policies designed to DENY COVERAGE to THEIR CLIENTS. Many deaths were CAUSED by this man.
You say violence is not the answer, but non-violent peaceful protests haven't been working and neither has voting. I'm not advocating for more violence but what other methods do the people have left? Pretty scary.
Tell that to republicans. Their whole platform is violence. As is the health insurance industry. That’s violence. On a massive scale. This was self defense
and the United Healthcare has committed many people to their demise…. Soooo..?.. there we have it. He refused the most claims to bc the 4th richest man.. who is the criminal
People act like a trigger and a signature doesn't represent the same thing. Just because there is no visible "blood at the scene" doesn't mean there wasn't someone who ordered a gross misconduct of general human rights.
Both are guilty and both have consequences at the end of their actions. I can say I don't condone violence or murder all i want, but when one is willing to let it happen, they should not expect they are exempt from it in return.
So you are totally against the revolutionary war of 1776, and the Declaration of Independence at the core of founding of the United States is a false premise… got it.
It’s sad that our country allows ppl to die bc they don’t have adequate health care coverage or resources. And I doubt we will have the empathy en masse to change it. It’s also truly disturbing to see ppl rush to justify or downplay the murder bc they hate the role his company plays in our system.
Framing this as “the role his company plays in our system” misses the mark. You’re a successful lawyer, which requires sensitivity to nuance and framing. Unfortunately, that’s not on display here.
“No other industrialized country on Earth so willingly and heartlessly lets a few large corporations literally decide who shall live and who shall die.” @mmflint.bsky.social We must change this system through the political process or America will never be “great.”
For the avoidance of doubt, I don’t think there are a lot of people arguing the opposite. People who won’t shed a tear over Thompson’s death shouldn’t be interpreted as favoring *better governance through murder*. That would be a loooong reach.
I understand. And I was disturbed by framing people’s deep hostility in relation to bureaucratic or structural details rather than the colossal harm to real people. I’m not pro-murder but I understand the source of the anger and hope this event motivates the right kind of change.
Many of us who agree with you, and who would not have wished this death upon this CEO . . . nevertheless, in light of the message implicit in his assassination, can't bring ourselves to be heartbroken about it.
I know because writing letters and saying “please” doesn’t work with these guys. And normal people can’t win legal actions with these monster companies. So we are kind of running out of options. 🥴
So you are still bloodsuckers happy with state and corporate violence, just don’t like it anywhere near you? Just want to be clear before anyone else decides to cozy up to you lot.
We should probably just bookmark this spot and come back to it after Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are cut to the bone. VA is squashed. ACA is repealed. Then we can see if violence isn't the answer is still a thing.
Word. Not saying health insurance companies are slimey or some c.e.o.'s aren't greedy scumbags not saying this one was either many things can be true at the same time but shooting people is never the answer. Imo
This dude used an AI algorithm with 90% miss rate to determine whether or not people could receive life-saving care. He was a murderer. I guess someone dying of cancer isn't "violent" but this dude is still a murderer and good fucking bye to him. He made money on the backs of those he killed.
the working class around the world has been stripped of housing, job security, nutrition, and leisure activities. the only thing they have left is health, and even that is on the brink of commercialization globally. just search for the news about the "newborn gang" in turkey.sometimes violence is...
Correct, & thanks for the lecture, but that's not the end of the story. Why are insurance companies allowed to deny, delay & defend and get paid billions for it?
The easy availability of guns will keep this problem roaring into our future. Young people (and old) are settling their problems with cheap handguns. They think they don't have a future and can settle their differences, damaged pride, and easily get retribution. There is hate in our communities.
And why? Their peaceful protests were being beaten down by cops. Their free expression got them rounded up and declared insane and placed in asylums and prisons where they died in hunger strikes.
“Deeds, not words” they said. Their deeds were the catalyst for urgent change.
I don't condone violence or vigilantism, but I can understand why they did it. Insurance companies turndown life saving care for profits. They're serial murderers. He was pushed beyond his limits and a sad day happened.
Healthcare shouldn't be for profits, but it should be for patients.
You forgot to include that there is never any justification for the senseless killing of United Healthcare policyholders by denying valid claims. The reports that are coming out are chilling, and it's just started.
Of course it isn't. On the other hand, it's hard for most Americans to argue in this moment with the words of the great Chris Rock: "I'm not saying he should have done it, but I understand."
Think you're wrongly reading the room here,old boy.They're not tweeting against the single person,the CEO who was killed,they're showing their disgust ( and frankly, rightly so) at the grotesque insurance system,in which people die for the sake of shareholder profit.
I can't believe this still needs to be said in 2024: runaway capitalism has not been making our lives better. Republicans have stood in the way of universal healthcare, reigning in the rich. You have justified the murder of the American kids for decades. This is a "reap what you sow" moment.
You can’t have people running around shooting those we don’t like. Innocent bystanders can get hurt, etc. However, the lesson for oligarchs ought to be that you shouldn’t be such a douchebag that so many cheer your death.
I sympathize with the Tankies- Especially with Musk unintentionally making a truly great case for killing affluent billionaires- But, I agree. Murder is not an acceptable answer.
That said, if there were laws in place to protect customers from insurance companies, maybe Mr. CEO would still be alive.
I respectfully disagree. I will show the same sympathy for him that he has shown for every single person who’s had a claim denied. May he burn in hell and his seed be stricken from the earth.
Perhaps this will make UHC and other predatory health insurance companies take stock and change their vile policies. If we didn't have a criminal traitor Russian asset POTUS in a couple of months, I would have more confidence that our government would do something about these corporate vampires.
You’re right. The violence inflicted on Americans by the avaricious for-profit model of healthcare in this country is really unbelievable in 2024. Universal healthcare is long overdue.
You guys are just like Trump. Always protecting the rich and not the people. If you really cared you would already have pushed for Universal Healthcare. US is the shame of the world the only developed country that allow parasite companies to drain the lives of it's citizens without punishment.
"Yes! Lets all be friend with the rich CEOs. Maybe they will stop denying us life saving treatments (that he paid them for) so we don't die of cancer. Maybe we magically just stop dying just because!"
All the people that died because of this guy were vindicated.
Violence not the answer, but we are already seeing the effects of what happened in a positive way. How many lives of thousands of people did this guys action save?
Nobody is saying violence is good. This guy was a high ranking member of a vicious criminal enterprise that steals hundreds of billions from sick dying cancer patients. He got whacked. People like him get whacked all the time.
Would you say that withholding medical care and a person dying as a result is murder? Would you say that denying a person's life-saving and/or pain relieving medication is violence? Who defines "violence or murder"? Because some might say one killed is far better than thousands.
Trump needs some of the violence of which he, himself has spread. The US legal justice system has failed us
"Equal Justice Under Law" my ass!
All the evil dictators of the world end upon a slab to end their brutal reign. Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam, Qhadaffi, etc
A karmic blessing from the universe
Yes. The US Gov can Fund a genocide, and allow the world to watch the devastation play out almost like a warning sign to those who don’t comply with being occupied and oppressed. Whole
The masses globally say stop, the Rich and politicians say no. That’s OK!
The next American revolution wont be against a foreign govt, but the tyrant of the owner class. It would be cool if it was non-violent. But they’ve flooded this country with guns and an angry mob stays non-violent for only so long.
Violence is the only thing this World knows. They yield power with the threat of violence every day. And until they feel the threat of violence at their door, nothing will change.
When a loved one dies due to having care denied by a healthcare provider this is the result. It is a wake up call. (I was impressed the gun Jammed and was cleared and second shot fired). I think this may have been a woman.
Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms.
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- Martin Luther King Jr.
If he was a slave owner?
If he was actively taking advantage of someone?
The laws are made vastly to protect those in power.
No he should not have had to die… does not mean it wasn’t just or the only way to create justice.
If Trumps justice fails the common person, expect more of this.
Health Care 4 All?
Tax the wealthy?
Anything?
What did you promise your constituents?
Quick question: Do you feel the same way about his victims?
However, as someone with a chronic illness who was done wrong by UHC, He can burn in blackest Hell.
Deny, depose, & defend.
Basically indifference!
He has to meet his maker & explain his greed! If you believe in hell, where do you think he’s going from the pearly gates?
“so as you sew, you shall reap”.
One has to wonder what will be inscribed on the bullets of many… (Elon & the many other miscreants) that promote & prop-up the corrupt Orange Turd at the expense of poorer Americans.
However I have to be truthful. I have no sympathy for this CEO.
He has to explain himself to his maker & why he chose to play god with sick people putting money a head of his fellow man!
Dante’s level 4 in hell for the greedy!
For profit healthcare is violence.
Conservatives denying justice is violence. Trumpism is what the Republicans have always been. They view authority as a sword.
As far as I can tell, our rights are to talk shit and shoot shit.
When the law fails the people, the people become the law.
what do you expect?
...and one that doesn't always need to be protested.
The people are hungry, let's not get too focused on mourning the the baker they stole the cake from.
2) It’s wrong Thompson got murdered, and most of us aren’t endorsing murder, we’re feeling indifferent, cause we think kids with cancer shouldn’t be denied or delayed coverage.
Violence is sometimes the only option against certain types of oppressors. I'm not advocating for the shooter but it's bullshit to absolve this ceo of the deaths he's caused. No one cares unless it's an oligarch
Still, it’s hard to feel ANY sympathy for the death of a man who put in place company policies designed to DENY COVERAGE to THEIR CLIENTS. Many deaths were CAUSED by this man.
I declare a class war
Why have cops?
We cheered when bin laden died. This guy killed more Americans
These C-suite guys know they are killing tens of thousands of people every year through claims denial. They still do it.
They sell a deadly defective product and lobby against alternatives.
NEVER !!!!!
Should American slaves not fought for their freedom?
Should the French Resistance not have fought the Nazis?
Should the Warsaw Ghetto Jews not have revolted?
Their oppression was legal, their freedom came through violence.
And why? Their peaceful protests were being beaten down by cops. Their free expression got them rounded up and declared insane and placed in asylums and prisons where they died in hunger strikes.
“Deeds, not words” they said. Their deeds were the catalyst for urgent change.
Healthcare shouldn't be for profits, but it should be for patients.
people in foreign lands, right?
That said, if there were laws in place to protect customers from insurance companies, maybe Mr. CEO would still be alive.
But all of a sudden health insurance companies change their practice of coverage and denying patients ...
Would it be wrong to call the killer now Robin Hood of New York for that?
"Yes! Lets all be friend with the rich CEOs. Maybe they will stop denying us life saving treatments (that he paid them for) so we don't die of cancer. Maybe we magically just stop dying just because!"
All the people that died because of this guy were vindicated.
"Equal Justice Under Law" my ass!
All the evil dictators of the world end upon a slab to end their brutal reign. Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam, Qhadaffi, etc
A karmic blessing from the universe
Thats murder-
*except war. War is okay
/sarcasm
The masses globally say stop, the Rich and politicians say no. That’s OK!
Which is more than can be said for this thread,
https://www.facebook.com/WFLAtheism/posts/pfbid02Y6XjRQh5KtjmJWpoxY11XLNrjHXkGVEcs8nhsDCxzA4vpw6xTT9mNkcf95Ltkrtdl?comment_id=3828298677443396&reply_comment_id=501027316293069¬if_id=1733510325517107¬if_t=comment_mention&ref=notif
Plenty of disheartened people around the world feeling this way.
(Not condoning this action in any way).
Voting doesn’t work. They’ve captured the courts. They are masters at disinformation.
What is left to us if not violence?