America's Healthcare Crisis Worsens, One Year After Notorious Assassination
A year has passed since Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. While the public's attention is still fixated on Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of the crime, it's clear that the real issue at hand is the crumbling healthcare system in the US.
Thompson's killing was met with a flurry of media analysis and speculation about Mangione's motives. However, what's striking is how little attention has been paid to the broader context: UnitedHealthcare's record of denying critical medical treatments and profiteering from patients' suffering. The company's actions have led to countless lives being lost or severely impacted due to inadequate care.
In 2023, ProPublica exposed that UnitedHealthcare denied vital treatment for children with autism, going against its own acknowledged "gold standard" treatment recommendations. This egregious example of corporate greed has led to widespread outrage and calls for reform.
But rather than taking concrete action, the US government is still mired in partisan infighting over healthcare policy. The Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire, and a recent vote on a $901 billion defense bill makes it clear that politicians are more interested in lining their own pockets than addressing the nation's healthcare crisis.
In reality, violence may not even be an effective solution. Instead of reversing decades-long trends of rising healthcare costs, skyrocketing medication prices, and worsening access to quality care, Thompson's death has only served as a catalyst for further debate – and distraction from the real issues at hand.
One thing is clear: America needs a radical overhaul of its healthcare system. The data on universal healthcare is overwhelming, with numerous studies demonstrating that single-payer systems can save lives and money. In fact, a 2020 study published in The Lancet estimated that a single-payer system could save the US $450 billion annually.
The answer to fixing America's broken healthcare system lies not in revenge or vigilantism but in collective action and solidarity. Americans need to demand better – and not through violence. A nationwide general strike, for example, has been shown to have the power to hobble an economy in a matter of weeks. It's time for the US to unite behind a comprehensive plan that prioritizes people over profits.
As one commentator noted, "If Americans want a better system, they simply have to demand it – and not by using guns." The time for change is now, and it requires more than just one man with a gun to effect real reform.
A year has passed since Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. While the public's attention is still fixated on Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of the crime, it's clear that the real issue at hand is the crumbling healthcare system in the US.
Thompson's killing was met with a flurry of media analysis and speculation about Mangione's motives. However, what's striking is how little attention has been paid to the broader context: UnitedHealthcare's record of denying critical medical treatments and profiteering from patients' suffering. The company's actions have led to countless lives being lost or severely impacted due to inadequate care.
In 2023, ProPublica exposed that UnitedHealthcare denied vital treatment for children with autism, going against its own acknowledged "gold standard" treatment recommendations. This egregious example of corporate greed has led to widespread outrage and calls for reform.
But rather than taking concrete action, the US government is still mired in partisan infighting over healthcare policy. The Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire, and a recent vote on a $901 billion defense bill makes it clear that politicians are more interested in lining their own pockets than addressing the nation's healthcare crisis.
In reality, violence may not even be an effective solution. Instead of reversing decades-long trends of rising healthcare costs, skyrocketing medication prices, and worsening access to quality care, Thompson's death has only served as a catalyst for further debate – and distraction from the real issues at hand.
One thing is clear: America needs a radical overhaul of its healthcare system. The data on universal healthcare is overwhelming, with numerous studies demonstrating that single-payer systems can save lives and money. In fact, a 2020 study published in The Lancet estimated that a single-payer system could save the US $450 billion annually.
The answer to fixing America's broken healthcare system lies not in revenge or vigilantism but in collective action and solidarity. Americans need to demand better – and not through violence. A nationwide general strike, for example, has been shown to have the power to hobble an economy in a matter of weeks. It's time for the US to unite behind a comprehensive plan that prioritizes people over profits.
As one commentator noted, "If Americans want a better system, they simply have to demand it – and not by using guns." The time for change is now, and it requires more than just one man with a gun to effect real reform.
. Like, I get that people are still trying to figure out what went down, but honestly, who cares about Luigi Mangione right now? The fact that UnitedHealthcare keeps denying medical treatments and making a profit off sick people is way more disturbing than some random guy getting shot 
. And can we talk about how politicians are just ignoring the real issue at hand? Like, if they actually cared about fixing healthcare, they'd be working on solutions instead of fighting over $901 billion defense bills 
. It's time for Americans to demand change and unite behind a better system that puts people over profits 
. We need radical reform, not just empty promises or violence 
. A nationwide general strike could be the perfect way to show the economy who's boss and get real progress on healthcare 
.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the US healthcare crisis 
. One year on from that senseless killing outside a hotel, it's clear that the real issue isn't the person who pulled the trigger, but the system that created this mess in the first place 
. UnitedHealthcare's record of denying life-saving treatments is just one example of how corporate greed can be deadly 
. We need a radical overhaul, pronto! 
.
a single-payer system would literally save lives & money 
plus its not like its a new idea, ppl have been talking about it 4eva in studies and all that... anyway, thompson's death was super tragic but idk how much attention is really being paid to the real issue 
like what even is being done about these cases of denying life saving treatments? and now the government is just going to sit around and do nothing because of partisan politics? 
people are dyin because they can't afford healthcare, yet politicians are too busy fightin over their own interests 
meanwhile, brian thompson just lost his life over it and nobody's even talkin about the real issue here 
unitedhealthcare is literally profiteerin off people's suffering and nobody's doin anythin about it 
we need a radical overhaul of the healthcare system, period 
. I mean, come on, they denied treatment for kids with autism in 2023! That's like, a whole different level of messed up 
.
? Newsflash: there is no magic solution here, just hard work and some real policy changes.
. Let's focus on making America healthy and wealthy again, not just for the rich and powerful 
especially after the tragic loss of Brian Thompson his death was such a senseless act of violence but it's clear that it's not just about revenge, it's about creating change 
it's time 4 us 2 stop payin off corporations & start lookin out 4 each other. 
. But we need collective action to demand better, not just some dude with a gun 
. We need to unite behind a comprehensive plan that prioritizes people over profits... now! 
. we need 2 take action NOW! a general strike might be a crazy idea but i'm willing 2 try anything if it means real change happens 
. can we pls just have 1 system where ppl r prioritized over profits?