Aaah, a murder. Murder most foul. In my old stomping grounds of New York. United Healthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson, gunned down in Midtown Manhattan. It quickly transpired into a modern-day White Ford Bronco chase.
My first thought: Someone, distraught at medical treatment being unjustly denied, targeted the man in charge.
That doesn’t make vigilante murder right. I mean, an innocent bystander or a pet could have been hit.
The shell casings, on which the words “delay” and “depose” were found, resembled “Delay, Deny, Defend,” the insurance industry mantra. That lovely phrase is the story of all our lives, dealing with these vile sea dragons.
I’m not condoning a murder but TBH, it’s hard to muster up sympathy. I’ve had it with the MSM canonizing middle-aged White male millionaire corporate executives whose paycheck depends on Americans dying. In fact, one WaPo article after another says nothing about the federal investigation in which Thompson was mired, choosing instead to whitewash and sanitize his life. Nearly every news outlet is asking the burning question, “Who was Brian Thompson?”
Who was he? Mr. Iowa-America here was accused of insider trading and fraud, points often sandwiched between glorifying his work on one side and praising his college academics on the other.
“In May, the City of Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund initiated a complaint against Thompson and other executives, accusing the CEO of failing to tell investors about the federal probe before he unloaded over 31 percent of his stock, taking in $15.1 million in proceeds.
“In legal documents, the fund said Thompson and other company execs sold over $117 million worth of UnitedHealth common stock during the four-month period when insiders knew about the federal antitrust investigation but the public did not.
That’s huge news. If you were a dead Black man, every story would lead with that. But not if you’re a dead White guy. Mustn’t tarnish his all-American image.
Chickens. At home. Roosting.
So, we do not yet know whether the killer was connected to a patient whose care was prohibited by United Healthcare, or related to the investigation, if his wife was involved, or even if Thompson owed someone money. But in the end, it doesn’t matter.
The court of public opinion holds this victim as a villain and the killer as a hero. All of social media is cheering the shooter. As police get closer to finding out who it is, I feel a pang, too. Maybe he’s not a professional. Maybe he’s just one of us.
We’ve all been there — denials for stupid reasons. I’ll never forget when insurance once refused to cover me — for seasonal allergies.
Stories of deaf children denied hearing aids are commonplace. Copays through the roof. Going bankrupt because insurance doesn’t reimburse you. Meanwhile, we pay our premiums like clockwork. That explains our reaction to this murder. We donate our hard-earned money for a service, only to receive little beyond a flu shot. So when someone takes justice into their own hands, it’s no surprise we shrug.
The U.S. is a developing nation regarding medical equity, among other things. Insured people are denied life-saving care, and 26 million have no coverage at all. United says they provide coverage to over 50 million people, but that just means they take payments from them. How many millions are denied medical attention?
This is FAFO defined. The fact that people are happy has sparked a long overdue conversation about the need for universal health insurance. Maybe a push for health care overhaul will transpire, and force more politicians to campaign on that message.
Tell me how you really feel
People are rooting for the shooter with comments like, “Remember, if you saw something, no the fuck you didn’t.” New Yorkers seem to have agreed to look the other way.
The ethical outlaw gained legendary status in under 24 hours. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Those who try to help catch the killer are reamed for their efforts. Anyone who posts his photo is slammed with “Why’re you sharing his photo??? Take it down!” Gladly. And I won’t share my amateur theories, lest there be a kernel of truth in there. Let the police do their job.
If only.
A Fortune 500 gamble
Thompson arrived in New York City sans security detail. Did the 50-year-old think being an average white male made him invisible? I suppose most of us wouldn’t have recognized him. But the reason is more likely this:
