My thought when reading this and other recent articles is how desperate some people are. The US is the only wealthy country in the world where health care is not a basic human right. Your outcomes and life expectancies suffer. The situation in Canada is far from perfect but better. But I’m not too worried. Donald has concepts.
I'm glad you tackled this edgy topic. The actions of Luigi Mangione remind me of the activities of the Weather Underground, back in the day, when rage, despair, and impotence over stopping the atrocities of the war in Vietnam or the attacks against the Black liberation movement and its leaders, led to actions like bombing research centers focused on enhancing the war machine, or commandeering Brink's trucks to take the cash and use it to support Black liberation. The common thread between then and now seems to be outrage against institutions that are engaged in widespread oppression, and feelings of impotence about creating a substantive change in direction. The example you shared about the democracy of the condo meeting and the cumbersome process that resulted in a positive shift is hopeful; it remains to be seen whether this can be applied to the massive changes that are needed in our unjust healthcare system, among many other unjust systems, in our society.
So good to hear from you, Sandy. It strikes me that American radical politics suffers from an inability to mobilize large numbers of people in the streets (at least since Vietnam) the way they do elsewhere in the world. We're left with the cumbersome machinations of democracy on the one hand and the actions of enraged individuals on the other. There has to be a middle ground, a sense of collective activity, don't you think? And it has to be understood that that kind of groundswell is normal and acceptable, not like the reaction to the campus protests against the war in Gaza.
Susie, being from Minnesota, understanding our laws, I have many thoughts on this writing. First Mangione is no hero or celebrity, he shot a 50-year-old man who is father in the back, murdered him, and there is no grey area here. We have turned violence into a game today on all of our media platforms, and Trump and his team promote it. I look at Medicare, Medicaid and reasonable supplementals which keeps 60% of our society with very good healthcare. The Affordable Care Act supports another 25 million people. Don't forget that a majority of Americans voted for Trump who wants to eliminate all of the above. The murder of one Health Care Executive won't fix any of that. America gets what it votes for, and that's sad because they don't read or understand those issues. Until everyone suffers through the next 4 years, nothing will change.
Daryl...I agree entirely that the murder of one Health Care Executive won't fix anything. What interests me is the reaction of many people as well as the complexity of the questions that we are all called to consider. I wanted to make space for people's response but, in the end, make it clear that someone was in fact murdered. I should add per your comment that I don't think 60% is an acceptable figure for the level of adequate health care.
Everything you said, Susie. And what your commenters said here, too. Thank you.
It feels like an important conversation. Glad you're part of it, Lee.
I'd be pleasantly surprised if it did, but I have little hope.
Alas....Sometimes surprises happen like the pushback against the president of South Korea and the fall of Assad in the last ten days or so.
You're right; I'll take those two instances as a ray of hope.
Splendid! Our moral ambiguity is exactly right.
I watched myself rooting for the guy and really had to step back and question where I was coming from.
My thought when reading this and other recent articles is how desperate some people are. The US is the only wealthy country in the world where health care is not a basic human right. Your outcomes and life expectancies suffer. The situation in Canada is far from perfect but better. But I’m not too worried. Donald has concepts.
Agreed. Only a person at the end of his rope would shoot someone because of outrage underscored by intractable back pain. Thanks for reading.
Excellent observations Susie-thank you.
I'm glad you tackled this edgy topic. The actions of Luigi Mangione remind me of the activities of the Weather Underground, back in the day, when rage, despair, and impotence over stopping the atrocities of the war in Vietnam or the attacks against the Black liberation movement and its leaders, led to actions like bombing research centers focused on enhancing the war machine, or commandeering Brink's trucks to take the cash and use it to support Black liberation. The common thread between then and now seems to be outrage against institutions that are engaged in widespread oppression, and feelings of impotence about creating a substantive change in direction. The example you shared about the democracy of the condo meeting and the cumbersome process that resulted in a positive shift is hopeful; it remains to be seen whether this can be applied to the massive changes that are needed in our unjust healthcare system, among many other unjust systems, in our society.
So good to hear from you, Sandy. It strikes me that American radical politics suffers from an inability to mobilize large numbers of people in the streets (at least since Vietnam) the way they do elsewhere in the world. We're left with the cumbersome machinations of democracy on the one hand and the actions of enraged individuals on the other. There has to be a middle ground, a sense of collective activity, don't you think? And it has to be understood that that kind of groundswell is normal and acceptable, not like the reaction to the campus protests against the war in Gaza.
powerful probing of an indeed murky area. Thanks so much.
This story seems to have an infinite number of layers. But maybe that's always the case if you keep digging.
Susie, being from Minnesota, understanding our laws, I have many thoughts on this writing. First Mangione is no hero or celebrity, he shot a 50-year-old man who is father in the back, murdered him, and there is no grey area here. We have turned violence into a game today on all of our media platforms, and Trump and his team promote it. I look at Medicare, Medicaid and reasonable supplementals which keeps 60% of our society with very good healthcare. The Affordable Care Act supports another 25 million people. Don't forget that a majority of Americans voted for Trump who wants to eliminate all of the above. The murder of one Health Care Executive won't fix any of that. America gets what it votes for, and that's sad because they don't read or understand those issues. Until everyone suffers through the next 4 years, nothing will change.
Daryl...I agree entirely that the murder of one Health Care Executive won't fix anything. What interests me is the reaction of many people as well as the complexity of the questions that we are all called to consider. I wanted to make space for people's response but, in the end, make it clear that someone was in fact murdered. I should add per your comment that I don't think 60% is an acceptable figure for the level of adequate health care.
Fully agree, I would like to see Medicare for All. Safe Travels!!!!