You and your loved ones have likely participated in systems of oppression. I hope you are never the target of violence.

[Music Man]

Are you or a loved one a police officer, judge, or lawyer? Because our judicial system has undeniably caused undue pain, suffering, and death for millions. Apparently, according to the new rules, you better watch your back.

American foreign policy has undoubtedly resulted in millions of deaths over the course of many years. Have a relative who has served in the military? Are they fair game? Going by the logic I've seen from many liberals this week, why should we mourn one death when our military has caused the death of millions of innocent civilians? Going to miss your slain family member at Christmas? Fuck 'em, right?

I can hear it now: "No, those are different. Brian Thompson is the head of the company."

But where does that end? The board of directors? Doctors and pharmacists in United's network?

Our healthcare system is indeed broken. But to resort to murder (and gun violence, no less, which our side is supposed to abhor) suggests that we think some humans are unredeemable. No takebacks or chance for growth. No chance that the person you hate could someday see the light. Nope--"I have back pain and you must die." End of discussion.

I want to live an undivided life in the sense that my political views are inseparable from who I choose to be. The same traits of compassion that lead me to want a universal health care system are the same traits that lead me to see murder for the vile action it is.

[Skittles]

1. it is very disturbing this even needs to be explained

an execution without due process is FASCISM

[Silent Type]

2. +1. Prefer David Hogg, Greta Thunberg, etc., solutions. After election I was concerned about trumpster's 2nd Amendment

solutions.

The cheering for Luigi Robinhood makes me concerned about any MFer on the street, and I’m just some — more retired than semi-retired — Social Security “dependent” that shouldn’t have to worry about crazy Unabombers, Charles Mansons, Timothy McVeigh, David Koreschs, and Luigis.

Agree with Fetterman and Shapiro on this one.

I do hope this gets Congress off their collective rears to get something meaningful done.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, and for all I care call it trumpcare. It just has to be significantly better.

[LudwigPastorius]

3. Yep.

Chances are that some of those espousing Luigi Mangione as a hero are fractional stockholders in UnitedHealthcare.

If you have money in a total stock market index fund, you should be experiencing cognitive dissonance, because that dead UHC CEO was doing his fiduciary duty to make you money.

Very few people living in a capitalist system have clean hands. It's just a fact.

[regnaD kciN]

4. It's part of America's addiction to vigilante justice...

...which has been promoted as the solution to a supposedly-broken system by the entertainment industry for decades. In that dark world-view, justice is impossible to find by working through institutions, so the only solution is for the lone crusader to pull out a gun and summarily execute the "bad guys" him- (or, occasionally, her-)self.

The only difference between this guy and the "subway shooter" is that we feel hatred in our own hearts toward a health insurance CEO as opposed to a handful of lower-class African-American teens, the way all too many white people felt in the 1980s.

But keep in mind, there are likely just as many people who feel, say, AOC or Bernie Sanders is evil and deserve death. Or, for that matter...you.

[maxrandb]

5. Bullshit!!!

You've "seen from many liberals this week"????

No, what you've "seen" is from the society the MAGAts have created.

Seen any Dem politicians joking about this, or encouraging more violence?

I sure as hell remember Retrumplican politicians joking about an 80 year old husband of a Democrat getting his skull crushed by a hammer.

Seen any Dem politicians describing him as a 'hero", or a "patriot", or "vowing to pardon him for his crime"????

Most importantly, did you see the Democratic Party electorally rewarded for violence??????

I would say; "take this both sides BULLSHIT to the media", but they are full-up....so, maybe stick it somewhere else.

[maxrandb]

6. Let me just say

"I am less concerned with what some anonymous dipshits post on the social media cesspool, and super concerned with what prominent Retrumplican politicians say and do and promise to do EVERY DAMNED DAY!"

and,

I am absolutely terrified that they are electorally rewarded for it.

Hard to fight violence when the message is; "violence wins".

There are a shit-ton of people to blame for that message, before you get to "liberals".

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. The healthcare, legal and judicial institutions in this country are built on violence. Many, many people here have

experienced the violence of those systems that are in fact targeted at them, so "I hope you are never the target of violence" comes a little late.

I want to live an undivided life in the sense that my political views are inseparable from who I choose to be. The same traits of compassion that lead me to want a universal health care system are the same traits that lead me to see murder for the vile action it is.

Will you let this keep you from making common cause with people who are making jokes about the murder of Brian Thompson who also want universal healthcare?

tbh this feels a little "and yet you participate in society! curious!"

[Music Man]

8. Except someone saying "we should improve society" is different from "murder is acceptable."

I think back to George Tiller's assassination. It was vile, though I'm sure there were plenty of folks celebrating that shooter because they earnestly thought Tiller was a murderer.

That was wrong, and so is this.

We ought to be careful what we condone, lest we open up the floodgates to even more awful things.