Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is being hailed by many as a hero.
There’s one thing profoundly mistaken with that.
From the time of Thompson’s homicide final week on a Manhattan road caught in surveillance digicam photographs, to snippets of Mangione’s alleged actions whereas on the run, on-line reward for Mangione has run neck and neck with vitriol for well being insurers.
Google eliminated a flood of adverse McDonald’s evaluations after a fast-food worker in an Altoona, Pa. location reported Mangione to police and he was arrested. “Extra like Narc-donalds…” wrote one person.
As Newsweek reported, on on-line fundraiser created to assist Mangione together with his authorized charges (with a purpose of $200,000) has surpassed $10,000. Greater than 380 donors have so far contributed.
One nameless $20 giver wrote, “Thanks on your service sir I hope that is solely the start.”
One other $20 patron echoed, “Thanks.”
Thanks for what? Leaving Thompson’s two sons with no father? How precisely will that change how well being care is managed on this nation?
Mangione seems to have been impressed by the Unabomber, in keeping with an NYPD intel evaluation report obtained by ABC Information. The report warned that like Ted Kaczynski — whose 17-year bombing marketing campaign killed three and injured 23 folks — Mangione might change into a “martyr” who conjures up “a variety of extremists” to behave.
That’s the issue with holding up murderous vigilantes as heroes, they encourage different folks keen to kill to attract consideration to their beliefs. Would anti-fossil gasoline activists be justified in executing oil firm executives or the house owners of native fuel stations? After all not, however zealots would beg to vary.
How is Mangione totally different than the disgruntled worker who opens hearth at a former office, or the random shooter with a grudge in opposition to society who decides to take out his anger on mall patrons?
The fawning on-line reception for Mangione is a chilling indication of an ethical nadir on this nation.
In handwritten pages Mangione had on him, he indicated “he’s pissed off with the well being care system in america,” NYPD Chief of Detective Joe Kenny advised ABC Information’ “Good Morning America.”
Who isn’t?
Well being care and the well being care insurance coverage trade is riddled with unhealthy practices, from extreme declare denials to actions corresponding to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Defend’s latest short-lived determination to place closing dates on anesthesia protection.
“We’ve gotten to some extent the place well being care is so inaccessible and unaffordable, persons are justified of their frustrations,” Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS Information medical contributor and editor-at-large for public well being at KFF Well being Information, advised CBS Mornings.
Frustration is justified, killing shouldn’t be.
After anesthesiologists slammed Anthem Blue Cross and the insurer reversed its plan, New York Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), sponsored a the invoice that will ban well being insurers from imposing arbitrary closing dates on sufferers below anesthesia.
That’s the way you have an effect on change, that’s the way you reverse unhealthy insurance policies and take motion to enhance the lives of People.
Because the accused killer fought extradition to New York in a Pennsylvania courtroom Tuesday, he shouted: “It’s fully out of contact and an insult to the intelligence of the American folks and the lived expertise!”
He’s partly proper. Lauding an accused killer is an insult to the intelligence of each law-abiding American. Take Mangione off the pedestal.
