General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy all the posts dismissing the murder of UnitedHealth CEO in New York?
Yes, it is the poster child of the for profit health insurance and, no doubt, many subscribers died because of the treatment the received but are we now following Whiny and Musk in eliminating enemies?
Is this the new face of DU?
leftstreet
(36,417 posts)These fcker's and their for profit companies murder us, and shareholders applaud
question everything
(49,084 posts)leftstreet
(36,417 posts)ck4829
(36,122 posts)Trekologer
(1,068 posts)Reviewed by their crack squad of noone.
atreides1
(16,434 posts)This has always been an eye for eye society.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)question everything
(49,084 posts)Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)...it sounded to me that you were saying WE were the cause of his death.
But you should read the posts again, I don't think anyone's applauding the murder, just the death.
soandso
(1,631 posts)You keep posting as though the two things are unrelated.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)....discussing the murderer's actions and discussing the victim's life and death.
Sometimes how a person dies isn't related to the fact they are no longer doing the things they did in life.
Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)Wiz Imp
(2,435 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(12,693 posts)LiberalArkie
(16,656 posts)soandso
(1,631 posts)Pretty sure they don't know the history, though, and how all that turned out.
Skittles
(160,304 posts)it is uncivilized
MustLoveBeagles
(12,693 posts)?si=GIMb3J0ZXdkQNyKX
SWBTATTReg
(24,332 posts)question everything
(49,084 posts)responses are full of glee
SWBTATTReg
(24,332 posts)this is one case for me. Killing someone is rather extreme.
The very nature of the killing makes it sound like a 'hit', which makes me think that someone was mad at him to warrant them to put out a hit on them either by contracting it out or doing it themselves. A little extreme. Owning a bookmaker lots of money doesn't sound reasonable being that the guy made lots of money. So, the other, maybe reasonable excuse is health care denied in an unfortunate case, where the patient denied died as a result of the denial.
It's too bad that health care decisions (if the reason why the assassination occurred) are often out of the hands of the patients and their immediate doctors, it seems like. On the other hand, sometimes the health care agency is too intrusive, like mine is, pushing me to get procedures done for no reason at all in my mind, that is, I've never had anything happen that warranted such procedures.
It's aggravating, and sometimes too much, especially if you take them up on the offer, then they'll turn around later and deny you later care regarding that same, slightly different procedure.
Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)question everything
(49,084 posts)soandso
(1,631 posts)They asked what was with all of the posts applauding the murder and there have been a lot.
Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)"are we now following Whiny and Musk in eliminating enemies?"
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19788023
soandso
(1,631 posts)You have a point.
Abolishinist
(2,071 posts)BannonsLiver
(18,203 posts)dalton99a
(84,881 posts)and see the replies
BannonsLiver
(18,203 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(11,106 posts)XanaDUer2
(14,602 posts)Coventina
(28,013 posts)Shellback Squid
(9,123 posts)tritsofme
(18,708 posts)You see it in things like this, support for authoritarian policies, people advocating in favor of coups.
It is a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in.
NewHendoLib
(60,567 posts)EarnestPutz
(2,683 posts)Elessar Zappa
(16,077 posts)That said, I dont give a damn that he was killed. One less greedy monster doesnt keep me up at night.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)...but I do know the suffering his profiteering causes, so yes, I'm glad he's not around anymore.
jimfields33
(19,314 posts)because when the abortion doctor was murdered, they were full of glee and high fiving each other. Sorry, but I remember that. It was repulsive. Im not going to banish anyone doing the same with this guy.
question everything
(49,084 posts)jimfields33
(19,314 posts)Dennis Donovan
(27,415 posts)If you're saying that there's open celebrating on DU, I just haven't seen it.
question everything
(49,084 posts)on this and other threads are.
WhiskeyGrinder
(24,097 posts)CrispyQ
(38,585 posts)EdmondDantes_
(115 posts)Fullduplexxx
(8,364 posts)question everything
(49,084 posts)Fullduplexxx
(8,364 posts)intheflow
(29,054 posts)Karma is morally neutral.
soandso
(1,631 posts)He may have been a callous bean counter, true. People have said United Healthcare or whatever they're called is the worst for denying claims. The point is, though, what kind of people applaud murder. That's worthy of a dispassionate and rational discussion. I'd have to say that it illustrates how far anyone can fall when consumed by rage and resentment. Totally understandable and very human but is it good?
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)So, I guess it depends on who died.
Bengus81
(7,494 posts)tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)I'm a bad person... I guess.
LeftInTX
(30,594 posts)If they were murdered, then it would devolve into a fight.
Emile
(30,787 posts)sarisataka
(21,268 posts)unless it happens to someone we feel is getting their just desserts. That isn't really new, but was usually limited to people somehow connected to guns themselves.
It is alarming that this case the murder is "tolerated" because of his position in his company. There have been several suggestions that CEOs should have to fear for their lives and at least one explicitly suggesting more assassinations.
I am not sure if the influence of the incoming administration is affecting DUers, or maybe we just aren't as good as we like to tell ourselves we are.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)Period.
sarisataka
(21,268 posts)Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)LisaM
(28,747 posts)The fact that someone is murdered in Manhattan in broad daylight on the way to a meeting is intolerable. DU is, should be, against gun violence. Period.
Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)Really, the drama in this thread is reminiscent of a middle-school theater club.
Silent Type
(7,325 posts)a better system. Obviously, most of that blame is on GOPers.
But, I expect plenty more dancing on this guy's grave. Interestingly, I just looked and their stock is up 1.03%.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)...people like this guy who was more than willing to enrich himself excessively off of our bad system, and actually agreed to have his company pay lobbyists to create this bad system.
Silent Type
(7,325 posts)we have. Harris sure didn't run on changing the healthcare system, likely because it would have been a loser in this election.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)soandso
(1,631 posts)Bill Clinton signed it into law.
Medicare Advantage, originally known as Medicare+Choice, was established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
Balanced budget act? I guess they didn't really mean that part.
Silent Type
(7,325 posts)Too many voters dont want one option, and that includes a number of Democrats. Even if we could avoid insurance company lobbying, doctors and hospital lobbying, etc., Im not sure we can convince half the voters its better in foreseeable future.
Its disappointing.
soandso
(1,631 posts)I support freedom of choice so support the public option.
Cuthbert Allgood
(5,192 posts)The health insurance system is 100% behind keeping their cash cow in place. Even here when we talk about single payer, the response is, "What about private insurance." Fuck them all. We deserve a better health care system than these dicks have given us.
I won't lose 2 seconds sleep over this douchebag being killed.
Silent Type
(7,325 posts)accept it if its like original Medicare-for-all? Until they do, we are stuck with what we have. Even the ACA is based upon private insurers.
CrispyQ
(38,585 posts)Algernon Moncrieff
(5,954 posts)bitterest enemies " is dead
the only man woman or child who wrote
a simple declarative sentence with seven grammatical
errors " is dead "
beautiful Warren Gamaliel Harding
" is " dead
he's
" dead "
if he wouldn't have eaten them Yapanese Craps
somebody might hardly never not have been unsorry, perhaps.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)RockRaven
(16,528 posts)oversee or engineer human misery at the mass scale.
We see it with politicians and religious leaders, why not business types too? I don't think there is anything novel about what I've seen thus far.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)LeftInTX
(30,594 posts)How many politicians and religious leaders are murdered?
The Trump shootings were a big deal.
RockRaven
(16,528 posts)Consider Gaza and Lebanon the past few months, and look how DU responds to various public figures' deaths.
And we have business type examples, consider Russian oligarchs "falling out of windows" or "hanging themselves" and look how DU responds to those deaths.
The response to this UHC guy isn't a "new DU" as was opined in the OP. It is in line with prior similar events.
If one finds those responses unpalatable and in need of change, that's fine, but one gets nowhere by misdiagnosing these responses as new or unique.
LeftInTX
(30,594 posts)Yes, political assassinations are common in unstable areas. They are not common in the US.
Murder of CEOs occur from time to time here in the US. We don't know the motive in this case.
I can think of numerous motives. Often, it is a power struggle within the corporation. Someone else wants the job. However, with an open hit, it doesn't look that way.
ETA: A few CEOs were targets of the unibomber.
Prairie Gates
(3,568 posts)Jacson6
(840 posts)When a black child was murdered the whites would say he was a drug dealer and deserved it. Do research on Young Boys, Inc for an answer to the puzzled look on your face that you have now.
WhiskeyGrinder
(24,097 posts)Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)it's nothing like that
BlueTsunami2018
(4,071 posts)Im not happy, Im not sad.
soandso
(1,631 posts)But I think the circumstances of the murder, who he was and the reactions to it are interesting to observe.
edhopper
(35,041 posts)"UnitedHealthcare is the worst insurance company for paying claims with about one-third of claims denied."
How many people has he killed?
claudette
(4,669 posts)And murder is not the answer
edhopper
(35,041 posts)I'll grieve for the family of all those who died because he denied their insurance claim.
claudette
(4,669 posts)Was justified in your mind? He didnt murder anyone
edhopper
(35,041 posts)Denying care someone needed to live is murder. And he is a serial killer.
So I feel nothing for his death, but please, show me where I said the murder was justified.
soandso
(1,631 posts)Justified, righteous, etc? I think that's an important philosophical question.
shedding no tears over this asshat and his family is not the same as saying the killing was justified.
A distinction many here can't seem to make.
soandso
(1,631 posts)and wanting these fuckers to pay for their actions. I'm more commenting on where all that might lead, as well as how that kind of rage effects the person holding it.
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
- Confusius
edhopper
(35,041 posts)Outrage at what is happening in this country?
soandso
(1,631 posts)stopdiggin
(13,008 posts)(and lower tier 'reactionary' at that)
and then you have to ladle on a good helping of the just plain foolish and unthinking ...
The ethics played out here are certainly nothing approaching admirable or pristine. (and sometimes fall short of bare minimum)
(and, no - it's been that way for a good while .. )
OilemFirchen
(7,172 posts)It'll return to a semblance of normalcy at some point, of course. For now, though, I'm like
Greg_In_SF
(85 posts)Would we be making jokes if he still worked at Price Waterhouse?
Two children are now without their Father because of a cold blooded murder.
Think. Again.
(19,052 posts)"Two children are now without their Father because of a cold blooded murder."
...would apply to at least one of the families his company denied coverage to.
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)eom
claudette
(4,669 posts)replace a father. What a cold response. Have liberals lost all compassion?
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)eom
claudette
(4,669 posts)saying murder is the answer. It is unbelievable.
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)eom
claudette
(4,669 posts)the unspoken idea behind what you did say
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)Good day to you.
Youre just ignoring the truth. Read over some of the comments.
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)And that's the truth.
claudette
(4,669 posts)saying denial of coverage murdered people so he had it coming? What does denial of coverage have to do with it?
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)Quit making shit up.
ck4829
(36,122 posts)Last edited Wed Dec 4, 2024, 02:38 PM - Edit history (1)
That shorter life expectancy is from people not seeking preventative care or needed care because it is too expensive, it is from people not getting mental health help because it is prohibitively expensive, it is from people getting bankrupted from medical bills and still dying anyway, it is from people not wanting to be a "burden" to their families.
But hey, some people are making money off of it, so it's the "good" kind of murder.
There is no excuse for this.
claudette
(4,669 posts)murdering the CEO of the company. Nothing justifies killing someone. It isnt even self defense. I cannot believe you are trying to convince people that his murder was ok
soandso
(1,631 posts)I hate insurance companies as much as the next person but that doesn't prove what you hoped. It may indicate that Americans have a shitty diet or depend too much on harmful pharma with deadly side effects. It may mean we work too much or have too much stress (though not likely because the Japanese work more). Hard to say and it's bad but there are lots of things that impact life expectancy.
Upthevibe
(9,249 posts)I wonder how many children are without their Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, and Uncles because of the claims denied by his company? I'd bet it's in the 10's of thousands...
usonian
(14,600 posts)Why do you think we post here.
SO WE HAVE ALIBI'S
No idea who or why yet. It ain't our fault.
soandso
(1,631 posts)*note to self: stay logged in to DU at all times.
claudette
(4,669 posts)Murder is not the solution. Its disheartening to think people might justify this.
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)eom
ck4829
(36,122 posts)100 days of mourning, tear out your hair, and a day of straight wailing and crying! This is demanded!
Not wanting to do this means you are a murder-supporting anarchist socialist!!!!111!!!ONE!
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)some here were outraged when magats celebrated Justice RBGs death and they are doing the same thing
happy feet
(1,114 posts)And Im totally non plussed about the CEOs murder. Youre attributing to DUets this attitude - doesnt apply to me and others.
A little common decency for the loss of life is enough
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)Upthevibe
(9,249 posts)IT'S CALLED KARMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I advise all DU'ers to watch a documentary called, The Corporation. Here's a video and a discussion about corporations:
Some are saying his company denied claims therefore he deserves to die for that. So sickening to think some here actually believe murder was the correct RETRIBUTION. Ring a bell?
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)claudette
(4,669 posts)exact words but the meaning behind their cold blooded comments. You cant sugar coat what is being said
tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)All I'm seeing is facts about the company and that the now deceased CEO made up to 10 million a year.
ck4829
(36,122 posts)tenderfoot
(8,879 posts)What has become of this place?
happy feet
(1,114 posts)Just dont care. Ive been insured by United Healthcare for most of my life.
milestogo
(18,256 posts)A man was gunned down when as he arrived at a building.
Before all else he is a human being, and he did not deserve this.
stillcool
(32,806 posts)living in a perfect world, thinking perfect thoughts...I might fit in here?
WhiskeyGrinder
(24,097 posts)XanaDUer2
(14,602 posts)Nt
leftstreet
(36,417 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(11,106 posts)I know I'm going to hell for laughing so hard at that one!
MineralMan
(147,987 posts)I will be interested to learn who shot him and what his reason was. At that point, I might have a comment.
Too many people are killed by gunshot for me to comment on yet another one, without any more information.
Klarkashton
(2,285 posts)Somebody shot me.
Mosby
(17,639 posts)ck4829
(36,122 posts)sarisataka
(21,268 posts)but we are not as different from him as we tell the person in the mirror
Celerity
(46,862 posts)Bettie
(17,389 posts)who was screwed over by UHC in one way or another.
Why is that so out of the box?
As for Trump/Musk....I assume that people like him are 100% pro-whatever-the-fuck that orange motherfucker is going to do.
Seeking Serenity
(3,080 posts)I've seen it and seen it.
Response to question everything (Original post)
tenderfoot This message was self-deleted by its author.
tonkatoy8888
(17 posts)I don't mourn his death.
I just do not give a fuck.
Just as when a cartel leader leader is gunned down or a mafioso gets blown up with a car bomb. When you traffic in death and the destruction of families sometimes bad things happen to you.
question everything
(49,084 posts)jrthin
(4,965 posts)Asa13
(43 posts)gay texan
(2,906 posts)for services i paid for, and DESPERATELY needed, I hope the guy suffered greatly on the ride to the hospital.
I shouldn't have to justify my continued existence to a fucking corporation get life saving treatment.
So, i hope the look of total fear was on his face and i hope he had an agonizing miserable death.
I hope the people he killed get some closure
XanaDUer2
(14,602 posts)ck4829
(36,122 posts)Upthevibe
(9,249 posts)I'm sorry for what you've gone through.
electric_blue68
(18,685 posts)THIS! ☝️☝️☝️
gay texan
(2,906 posts)I needed a simple procedure.
Year long fucking battle with this company. Finally got it done. Then they tried to wiggle their way out of paying. They PURPOSELY kept making a single mistake on the account number. Countless fucking bills, countless hours of back and forth, hours of missed work.
Next time it was my anti depressants, emotional roller coaster ride, got really out of it.
On and on and on, ALL United HC!!
Through no fault of my own, i am NOW on UHC again, and fighting with med refills on a "caddy" policy i have through my employer.
I know i have sleep apnea, they wont approve the test.
So fuck him. I stand 100% behind my statement. I hope he felt real proper pain on his way out.
electric_blue68
(18,685 posts)Just asking bc my sis has sleep apena, went through the tests etc
I, having no idea about costs, and various types of C PACS...
Is there any kind of lower cost one that, while not totally relieving it at least cut down on the intensity, and/or frequency? Just in case, you hadn't thought of this (should it be possible).
Wishing you some some better outcomes! And soon.
Buzz cook
(2,615 posts)Lots of shootings in the United States. This one is no more ore less important than any other.
Don't want to hear about it on repeat for the nest two or three days.
My sympathies to his family, just as it goes to the families of all shooting victims.
dchill
(40,766 posts)Gore1FL
(21,990 posts)I'm not fond of the business model. A person dying doesn't fix anything, though.
TBF
(34,748 posts)What you really mean is "I don't want you to say these things". And if you're going to do it, be honest about it. Explain why you think they are wrong.
harumph
(2,399 posts)He's probably a father as well. But really, he's both isn't he? It's human nature to (if not wish ill on those who we
perceive as hurting us.., to be unsympathetic). I'm sure if any of us knew him personally, we would be horrified.
But in the big picture, shit like this is unavoidable when wealth inequality is completely out of bounds by any reasonable
measure. People have a sense of fairness. People seek balance.
soandso
(1,631 posts)People hate insurance companies because they deny too many claims. He's wealthy so in comes envy and resentment. Wealth disparity is a serious problem and can lead to some very bad outcomes when people are mad enough about it.
Strelnikov_
(7,842 posts)were settled out of court.
LeftInTX
(30,594 posts)yaesu
(8,356 posts)Abolishinist
(2,071 posts)and then show how Brian Thompson fits your definition.
gay texan
(2,906 posts)I was a wee toddler and at my Grandmothers house. She had a cat that only liked her, and hated everybody else.
Well i kept fucking with that cat. It would hide, i would find it.
Grandma kept warning me NOT to do that.
Pretty soon that cat laid a 5 alarm ass whooping on me. I still have a scar on my arm.
You know what Grandma said as she was dressing my wounds?
"It serves you right. I bet you won't mess with that cat again!" i slowly shook my head no.
And i didnt.
When you fuck with someones livelihood, when you fuck with the lives of peoples children, when you fuck with the lives of loved ones, and the legal system doesn't do anything about it.....
It's only a matter of time before someone get so fucking mad that they take matters into their own hands, hence what we have here.
This guy has left a path of destruction and dead people in his wake. People that didn't deserve it. Serves him right.
Crunchy Frog
(27,121 posts)ck4829
(36,122 posts)orangecrush
(22,122 posts)I've been shoveling snow for days.
PatrickforB
(15,126 posts)UT_democrat
(152 posts)jfz9580m
(15,584 posts)And a few posts by angry and frustrated DUers (typically posters who I remember as having posted about poverty and worries of homelessness etc.)
But mostly people are not celebrating it. It is a disturbing and chilling story (especially if it is a sign of what extreme social inequality results in). This is the last response you want to see to extreme inequality. Otoh maybe it is just personal vendetta and that is less chilling. It is unfortunate for his family. But there is so much hurt going around and so much more dreaded and expected. Especially for people who have very little money.
But yes there is not much performative outrage over the shitposts from most DUers. After all it is an Internet ritual we are all familiar with. Shitposts followed by largely performative outrage.
And sometime frustrated and powerless people let off steam in ways that are not as decorous as might be ideal-but it is understandable and hardly a sign of some sort of dark DU underbelly is my two cents.
Most of us who dont call out the shitposts on topics like these dont take them seriously. Tbh I dont take the outrage seriously either. Standard internet stuff. That is the kayfabe the shitposters and those outraged by it participate in.
It is not hard to tell when people are truly upset by a story. It is likely that compassion for the families of those denied coverage is more genuine than the outrage over the shitposts.
Similarly outrage over Musk or Ramaswamy shitposting is never performative. People are worried about Musk and Ramaswamy affecting their parents social security or their own healthcare etc.
I can say I genuinely dont celebrate it..how could anyone seriously celebrate murder? it is a disturbing story especially since UHC seems really awful. Violence as a result of extreme inequality is a disturbing sign..if that is what it is. Violence is never the answer but nothing is particularly rational these days.
I suspect for most of us-it is dark stuff if political or yet another true crime story.
Moving on..
Happy Hoosier
(8,549 posts)... but I guarantee you that the CEO of a for profit health insurance company has plenty of blood on his hands.
barbtries
(29,950 posts)i'm not full of grief over it to be totally honest.
Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)been relegated by this election, watching.
themaguffin
(4,232 posts)snot
(10,798 posts)karma.
snot
(10,798 posts)feelings, thoughts, and even words from principles and actions.
I do not believe anyone is entitled to actually murder someone else, except in response to a realistic threat of their own imminent death.
But I do not feel upset by this particular murder; and I'm entitled to my feelings and thoughts, and to express them, regardless of whether they're "right."
That said, I'd consider it rude to express my feelings and thoughts about the man at his funeral.
Sneederbunk
(15,392 posts)orangecrush
(22,122 posts)Most people here are just fed up with pigs.
Beringia
(4,655 posts)LizBeth
(10,892 posts)A moment of thought and prayer, while we are making 20 an hour, 2k deductible for a damn office visit and screwing people on a regular basis. Read the room. People are dying all over the place and our CEO sends out an email to all of us to ..... fukcin mourn.
The Third Doctor
(388 posts)Mourning.
LizBeth
(10,892 posts)Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)if it goes over an arbitrary time.
I wouldn't kill him. As another poster said, though, I'm keeping my compassion powder dry.
Iggo
(48,526 posts)Itll pass.
Cuthbert Allgood
(5,192 posts)I could not care less that he is no longer with us. The world is a better place without him. If you don't agree, fine. I'm not telling you how to feel. Are you mad at the shareholders that still had their meeting while his corpse cooled down?
Lulu KC
(5,015 posts)hamsterjill
(15,525 posts)But I do have a limited amount of compassion to expend because of all of the bad in the world, and I choose where to direct that compassion.
This is not an instance where Ill be losing sleep.
Perhaps it will make other, greedy and obviously calloused people think about their actions.
JustAnotherGen
(33,815 posts)Surprised there's so many posts about it at all.
Scrivener7
(53,189 posts)Like this one.
And for the record, no one here killed the guy, and no one here would ever remotely consider killing the guy, and no one here condones the killing of the guy. Obviously.
LoveSucky
(13 posts)Klarkashton
(2,285 posts)Last edited Thu Dec 5, 2024, 08:26 PM - Edit history (1)
Out some CEO to bring attention to a huge problem that most American face in their lives.
RandySF
(71,149 posts)But weve all shed so many tears for friends and family that we dont have any left for those who play games with our lives.
GenThePerservering
(2,675 posts)Thread after thread pretending this wide-eyed "is this what we have become???" horror because people aren't rending their clothing in anguish at this man's death, and have gallows humour because if we didn't laugh we would cry over the insurance situation.
And now there's this ironic turn of events. And no, some of us don't give a shit that he's dead, even if we know that murder will never solve anything and is wrong.
I'm waiting for "And so it begins", or maybe "buckle up" as our next cliche narrative.
Demobrat
(9,947 posts)by one of his victims family members?
Or would it be preferable to have him go on to kill your loved one?