The voices that often dictate how we should think—the New York Times crowd, for example—suggest that White working-class voters support Donald Trump because they’re tired of being dominated by the ruling elite. However, the widespread reaction to the recent murder of a healthcare CEO reveals a deeper sentiment shared by many Americans—not just Trump voters, but also progressives and those who typically avoid political debates altogether.
The alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old from Towson, Maryland, has been controversially lauded by some as a near-hero following the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Thompson was shot multiple times on his way to an early-morning investors’ meeting in Manhattan.
“Certainly, there’s a lot to be said about fixing our healthcare industry. But this is just not the way. And elevating somebody who did something like this is certainly not the way. This man had a family. There are people suffering as a result of this,” commented Jim Acosta, a CNN host and 1993 JMU graduate. Acosta’s perspective appears aligned with the CEO class, rather than the countless Americans who have faced hardships inflicted by profit-driven healthcare systems.
Count me among the latter group.
My childhood best friend is currently in UVA Hospital, fighting for his life while waiting for a heart transplant. Alongside this life-or-death struggle, he endures relentless calls from debt collectors, despite having top-tier health insurance.
As a kid, I watched an aunt and uncle—also with excellent insurance—suffer financially after their daughter sustained debilitating brain injuries in a car accident. Years of emotional and financial strain eventually led to their divorce.
Chances are, you or someone close to you has experienced a similar ordeal.
While these experiences don’t justify taking a life—leaving behind a family, including two children—they do explain the anger. In the U.S., 41.2% of adults, about 100 million people, carry significant medical debt, according to Kaiser Health News and NPR. Medical debt is the leading cause of 60% of personal bankruptcies in the country.
“Watching my father choose to forgo care and essentially commit suicide rather than let insurance companies bleed him dry is something I’ll never forget,” shared Beau Forte, a former Green Party congressional candidate from New Jersey, on social media.
Columbia University professor Anthony Zenkus echoed similar sentiments online:
“Today, we mourn the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, gunned down… wait, I’m sorry, today we mourn the deaths of the 68,000 Americans who needlessly die each year so that insurance company execs like Brian Thompson can become multimillionaires.”
Adding to this, a U.S. Senate report from earlier this year revealed that three major insurance companies, including UnitedHealthcare, strategically deny patient claims to maximize profits. UnitedHealthcare alone reported $281 billion in revenue last year.
Complicating the narrative further is Mangione’s own background. Despite being the grandson of a multimillionaire real estate developer and the child of wealthy business owners, his frustrations with the healthcare system stem from chronic pain caused by a back injury. However, the connection between his grievances and UnitedHealth remains unclear.
This tragedy hints at a growing sentiment of discontent with the U.S. healthcare system. Even individuals from affluent backgrounds seem to be reaching a breaking point.
The frustration may soon extend beyond healthcare, as more people question the influence and dominance of the billionaire class.
Just something to think about.