Why Are Americans Praising This "Vigilante Murderer" as a Freedom Fighter?
Luigi Mangione, responsible for the death of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, has been creating a significant buzz online, though not focused on his own actions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Luigi Mangione, the individual charged with the murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, has sparked significant online conversation – though not in his favor.
The murder of a U.S. health insurance CEO has ignited a unique unity among average Americans across political lines, rallying against the systemic corruption that might otherwise prompt military actions if it were occurring in a foreign country deemed strategically important to the U.S.
It's no surprise that Washington is keen on banning TikTok. Following the shocking moment a masked assailant shot UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan on December 4, leading to a manhunt, social media users quickly responded. Comments flooded TikTok, with one stating, “Sorry, I can’t help. I didn’t see anything because my insurance co-pay was too high for me to afford eyeglasses,” and another noting, “This story is getting more coverage than UnitedHealthCare ever provided.”
Many found humor in the suspect’s successful evasion of law enforcement for several days, as well as the inscriptions on shell casings found at the crime scene – “deny, defend, depose,” which echoed the “delay, deny, defend” tactics often associated with health insurance companies’ strategies to avoid fulfilling claims for which customers have already paid.
Some individuals even wondered where they could contribute to the suspect’s legal fees, sharing their own health insurance denial letters in the process.
As someone who was once bewildered to receive an $800 bill for a routine blood test due to a lack of prior authorization from my doctor, I understand how the U.S. healthcare system can feel like a vast scheme designed to exploit patients.
Those who have faced the frustration of paying exorbitant monthly premiums for private insurance, only to navigate labyrinthine administrative obstacles when seeking coverage, are acutely aware of the systemic issues at play.
However, not everyone has found amusement in this grim situation. Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor, John Shapiro, expressed deep concern about the online reactions surrounding the case. "Some attention in this case, especially online, has been deeply disturbing, as some have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer," he remarked, a stark contrast to his actions just months prior, when he was seen signing ammunition alongside Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at an army ammunition facility.
During that earlier moment, Shapiro had emphasized, “We must all do our part in the fight for freedom – from the workers in Scranton who make Pennsylvania the arsenal of democracy to the brave Ukrainian soldiers protecting their country.”
Yet one must ask: what about safeguarding Americans from predatory practices? The Democratic leadership has failed to mitigate the growing discontent, leaving many citizens to cheer a symbolic act of violence as if it were the removal of a tyrannical leader.
This perspective mirrors how Washington often characterizes foreign leaders obstructing its goals as tyrants oppressing their people. In contrast, when it comes to domestic healthcare executives profiting handsomely while denying care to the sick, there appears to be a selective blindness to the exploitation.
The rapid circulation of “wanted” graphics featuring images and salaries of private health insurance CEOs strikingly resembles a most-wanted terrorist list, underscoring the growing frustration among the public.
While the military-industrial complex thrives on creating external threats to justify taxpayer expenditures, the medical-industrial complex relies on neglecting the ongoing issues within its framework. Both are marked by dysfunction, but at least wars can be halted through negotiations, whereas the everyday suffering of countless Americans often remains unnoticed.
A recent violent incident has united public sentiment online, reminiscent of movements like the Arab Spring, elevating the silent struggles of millions into the national spotlight.
A manifesto purportedly written by Mangione reads like a call to arms. “Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming… The US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy. United is the largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but has our life expectancy? No, the reality is these have simply gotten too powerful, and they cannot continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it,” it states.
“I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument,” Mangione continues, seemingly opting to let “Mr. Bullet” speak for him instead.
The upcoming trial could prove to be a revealing moment, potentially shedding light on the practices and strategies of the health insurance industry. With a recent jury acquitting an army veteran of criminally negligent homicide in a separate case involving a subway chokehold, it’s intriguing to consider how the jury’s experiences might affect their verdict here.
In the interim, violence is not generally how civilized societies resolve conflicts in America. Such actions are typically reserved for the establishment when dealing with its adversaries, not for those marginalized within the “Best Nation On Earth™.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
The murder of a U.S. health insurance CEO has ignited a unique unity among average Americans across political lines, rallying against the systemic corruption that might otherwise prompt military actions if it were occurring in a foreign country deemed strategically important to the U.S.
It's no surprise that Washington is keen on banning TikTok. Following the shocking moment a masked assailant shot UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan on December 4, leading to a manhunt, social media users quickly responded. Comments flooded TikTok, with one stating, “Sorry, I can’t help. I didn’t see anything because my insurance co-pay was too high for me to afford eyeglasses,” and another noting, “This story is getting more coverage than UnitedHealthCare ever provided.”
Many found humor in the suspect’s successful evasion of law enforcement for several days, as well as the inscriptions on shell casings found at the crime scene – “deny, defend, depose,” which echoed the “delay, deny, defend” tactics often associated with health insurance companies’ strategies to avoid fulfilling claims for which customers have already paid.
Some individuals even wondered where they could contribute to the suspect’s legal fees, sharing their own health insurance denial letters in the process.
As someone who was once bewildered to receive an $800 bill for a routine blood test due to a lack of prior authorization from my doctor, I understand how the U.S. healthcare system can feel like a vast scheme designed to exploit patients.
Those who have faced the frustration of paying exorbitant monthly premiums for private insurance, only to navigate labyrinthine administrative obstacles when seeking coverage, are acutely aware of the systemic issues at play.
However, not everyone has found amusement in this grim situation. Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor, John Shapiro, expressed deep concern about the online reactions surrounding the case. "Some attention in this case, especially online, has been deeply disturbing, as some have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer," he remarked, a stark contrast to his actions just months prior, when he was seen signing ammunition alongside Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at an army ammunition facility.
During that earlier moment, Shapiro had emphasized, “We must all do our part in the fight for freedom – from the workers in Scranton who make Pennsylvania the arsenal of democracy to the brave Ukrainian soldiers protecting their country.”
Yet one must ask: what about safeguarding Americans from predatory practices? The Democratic leadership has failed to mitigate the growing discontent, leaving many citizens to cheer a symbolic act of violence as if it were the removal of a tyrannical leader.
This perspective mirrors how Washington often characterizes foreign leaders obstructing its goals as tyrants oppressing their people. In contrast, when it comes to domestic healthcare executives profiting handsomely while denying care to the sick, there appears to be a selective blindness to the exploitation.
The rapid circulation of “wanted” graphics featuring images and salaries of private health insurance CEOs strikingly resembles a most-wanted terrorist list, underscoring the growing frustration among the public.
While the military-industrial complex thrives on creating external threats to justify taxpayer expenditures, the medical-industrial complex relies on neglecting the ongoing issues within its framework. Both are marked by dysfunction, but at least wars can be halted through negotiations, whereas the everyday suffering of countless Americans often remains unnoticed.
A recent violent incident has united public sentiment online, reminiscent of movements like the Arab Spring, elevating the silent struggles of millions into the national spotlight.
A manifesto purportedly written by Mangione reads like a call to arms. “Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming… The US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy. United is the largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but has our life expectancy? No, the reality is these have simply gotten too powerful, and they cannot continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it,” it states.
“I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument,” Mangione continues, seemingly opting to let “Mr. Bullet” speak for him instead.
The upcoming trial could prove to be a revealing moment, potentially shedding light on the practices and strategies of the health insurance industry. With a recent jury acquitting an army veteran of criminally negligent homicide in a separate case involving a subway chokehold, it’s intriguing to consider how the jury’s experiences might affect their verdict here.
In the interim, violence is not generally how civilized societies resolve conflicts in America. Such actions are typically reserved for the establishment when dealing with its adversaries, not for those marginalized within the “Best Nation On Earth™.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
