I am going to make the assumption that you have been following current events in the United States over the last week. I am going to imagine that you have some very strong opinions about what happened both on the streets of New York...and online. And I am going to assume that you will hear me out and accept my particular take on this (no trigger warnings necessary or provided).
To go back to the beginning...
This is what we know: on December 4th, at around 6:38 in the morning, a man stepped out from behind a vehicle and shot the CEO of UHC in front of the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. The assassin then took off on a bike, but not without leaving behind shell casings that had the words “Delay”, “Deny”, “Defend” written on them with a marker (these words are connected to the policies of the insurance companies: Delay payouts; Deny claims; Defend ourselves at all cost). It is worth noting that the round that had the word Delay on it was a live round. And then he was filmed flirting earlier at a Starbucks, and there was one other photo of him in the back of a taxi cab.
Now, the news cycle moves pretty fast, so I had to catch up. They have caught a suspect with a homemade gun (a ghost gun), silencer, the same clothes as in the video, and a manifesto which states that the health care industry deserves to suffer. Now, this was also after a lot of online comments that reveal that people are now saying the quiet parts out loud. Most of what I read and heard now says that the killer may have been out of line (ha, ha), but there is no sympathy for the victim, his family, or the industry because of the suffering that they have faced because of that industry (and let’s be clear: UHC is the top health care denier, and Mr. Thompson was about to attend an investor’s meeting to discuss just how financially successful their company has been). There has also been a lookalike contest and I have seen people dancing on the streets of New York in praise of the killer.
And now they have caught him.
His name is Luigi Mangione, a twenty-six year-old who has been called “a national hero”, and urged, “when you get out, do it again”. I am also learning that he is not some ultraliberal supporter waving the banner for socialism (rumours of his incel credentials are now coming out, along with information about his wealthy family and academic success). No one who is a complete amateur with a weapon would behave the way he did. Why let yourself get caught on all of those cameras? Why keep the fake passport, clothes and weapon when you know that your face is all over the news (reasonable doubt could have been on his side)? A trial by jury might make it possible for him to get away with a hung jury, and I would not be surprised if a conviction was not forthcoming for this “person of interest”. He might have a way out.
Now, I did not write this to just repeat what many of you already know. I am sure that there are many of you who are happy to hear that there was payback towards the boss of one of these companies. And I am even sure that some of you are glad that the killer has been caught. What I did want to do was give my own take on this.
First, I am going to give out some information about my own situation. I am Canadian, which means that we have our own health care system that is not based on the profit system. My mother had cancer treatments and these sessions were covered without any fuss. I have spent time in hospitals for surgeries and illnesses without putting my family in debt. It is not perfect – the crowds I have seen in hospitals, including the one next to my home, make me worried – but we do have a good safety net.
Next, the responses between the people and the media: I am not sure if anyone at the major networks really understands why there is so much hate out there. And I am also aware that they would not have cared if there had not been this huge projected stage for the public to weigh in on this (the response to the tweet from UnitedHealthcare received more laughter than tears from that same public). They are finally hearing what the potato-eaters have to go through, and they do not know which way to stand on this. Be moral and be lost; be gruesome and you will go with the flow (and is that really a choice?)
And finally, the United States has an issue that has united their citizenry:
“I hope he’s looking up at us.”
That is the only tweet I am willing to reproduce here (I know that not everyone shares my sense of humour, and I found that line quite funny). And I am sure that you have some about “preapproved conditions” and “prior authorization” lines that have come from both the red and blue states out there. Yes, this is the issue that crosses across the political divide. If Kamala and the Democrats had actually exploited how people actually feel about this issue, they may have made it back to the White House in January. Instead, Trump – not the clearest orator on the issue of health care – is going to exploit this for his own ends. And yes, I said it. He will exploit it. I heard comments from the comedian Bill Burr on how this might be the first step in cleaning up after the Epstein trial and all those old photos still exist. We know that the Orange Agent was a buddy and a part of a very ugly cabal of rich and greedy people who never thought they would face their past.
Is this the first step? Should other bosses be worried?
Keep watching...
So much to read into them...
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Thank you for reading!
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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.
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