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Hey everyone,

I want to discuss the recent, tragic event involving Luigi Mangione and the late Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. On December 4, 2024, Thompson was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in what appears to be a targeted attack. (en.wikipedia.org)

Authorities arrested 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in connection with the crime. Reports indicate that Mangione harbored deep-seated grievances against the healthcare industry, which he meticulously documented in a manifesto found upon his arrest. (nypost.com)

This incident has ignited widespread discussions about the state of America's healthcare system. While Mangione's actions were abhorrent and cannot be condoned, they force us to confront a critical question: how have we allowed healthcare, something so essential to human life, to become a luxury accessible only to the wealthy?

The Profits Over People Problem

The root of this tragedy lies in a system that prioritizes profits over people. Every day, millions of Americans face an impossible choice: bankrupt their families to pay for life-saving treatments or forgo care and suffer the consequences. Even those who have insurance are not immune, as they often receive inadequate treatment from companies more focused on shareholder dividends than patient well-being.

The United States is the wealthiest country in the world, yet it has one of the most expensive and inequitable healthcare systems. How can we justify a model where life and health are commodities? Healthcare should never be about profit margins; it should be a basic human right. No one should have to die or suffer because they can't afford to see a doctor, fill a prescription, or undergo a necessary procedure.

UnitedHealthcare and a Broken System

The late Brian Thompson was emblematic of an industry that has perpetuated this broken system. Under his leadership, UnitedHealthcare, like many other insurers, became notorious for prioritizing cost-cutting and denying claims rather than providing meaningful care. While violence is never the answer, the anger Mangione expressed reflects the broader frustration and despair of countless Americans who feel abandoned by a system designed to exploit their vulnerabilities.

A Wake-Up Call

This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call. If we continue to allow corporations to profit from illness and suffering, we will only see more desperation and disillusionment. Access to healthcare is not just a political issue; it’s a moral imperative. It’s time to demand a system where everyone, regardless of income or background, can receive the care they need without fear of financial ruin.

Profiting from healthcare is a choice we’ve allowed for far too long. Let’s work to change that choice—for the sake of our loved ones, our communities, and our future. A society that denies basic health to its people is not a society worth living in.

What Do You Think?

What are your thoughts on this? How can we start shifting the conversation and advocating for real change? Let’s discuss.

Best regards,
CareerCynic

CareerCynic wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2024 2:23 pm
A Wake-Up Call

This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call. If we continue to allow corporations to profit from illness and suffering, we will only see more desperation and disillusionment. Access to healthcare is not just a political issue; it’s a moral imperative. It’s time to demand a system where everyone, regardless of income or background, can receive the care they need without fear of financial ruin.

Profiting from healthcare is a choice we’ve allowed for far too long. Let’s work to change that choice—for the sake of our loved ones, our communities, and our future. A society that denies basic health to its people is not a society worth living in.

First off, I completely agree with your analysis of the healthcare system—it’s a corrupt, profit-driven machine that has caused immeasurable suffering in America. It’s a disgrace that in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, healthcare is treated like a luxury item rather than a human right.

Let me address Luigi Mangione’s actions. Do I condone violence? No. But do I understand where his rage came from? Absolutely. When people feel cornered by an unjust system—when they watch their loved ones suffer and die because they can’t afford care—it breeds desperation. Mangione’s actions are tragic, but they also send a message that the healthcare industry needs to take seriously. If nothing changes, how long until someone else feels compelled to take similar drastic measures? This isn’t just about one man’s anger—it’s a warning of what’s to come if we don’t reform the system.



Even DeadBug weighed in on this incident with his usual sharp commentary. In his video, he laid bare the hypocrisy of someone like Brian Thompson, who earned millions while denying care to those in need. DeadBug’s description of Thompson riding a "gravy train with biscuit wheels" perfectly captures the absurdity of executives profiting off human suffering. Thompson’s legacy, as DeadBug pointed out, is one of greed, exploitation, and an industry-wide commitment to putting profits over lives.

And yet, even this tragic case had a layer of ridiculousness. A McDonald’s employee tipped off police about Mangione, likely hoping to claim the $60,000 reward. But as we’ve seen from this analysis, the system might screw the worker out of their money due to bureaucracy and technicalities. How fitting that even when someone plays by the rules, they can still be denied what they’re owed. It’s a microcosm of what’s wrong with America: promises made, but rarely kept.

At the core of all this is a fundamental question: why do we allow healthcare companies to rake in billions while denying basic care to the people who need it most? Brian Thompson’s company, UnitedHealthcare, was notorious for cutting costs by cutting care. This is not an isolated issue—it’s systemic. If we want to avoid more tragedies like this, we need to dismantle the profit motive in healthcare. No one should be forced to decide between going bankrupt or saving their loved ones.

To those who say Mangione’s actions are unforgivable: maybe they are. But let’s not forget the countless lives lost every day to a system that values shareholder profits over human lives. Where is the outrage for those victims? Where is the accountability for the executives and corporations that knowingly let people die? If this event pushes America closer to meaningful healthcare reform, maybe some good can come from this tragedy.

The lesson here is clear: healthcare should not be a privilege—it must be a right. If we continue to profit from suffering, we’ll only create more Mangiones—angry, desperate people with nothing left to lose.

Let’s fix this before it’s too late.

Best,
CubicleRebel

CubicleRebel wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2024 7:45 pm Re: The Tragic Consequences of a Broken Healthcare System
It’s a corrupt, profit-driven machine that has caused immeasurable suffering in America. It’s a disgrace that in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, healthcare is treated like a luxury item rather than a human right.

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum, but I felt compelled to create an account and share my thoughts on this matter, as it has stirred something deep within my soul. I spent decades in the pulpit, preaching the Word of God and guiding others toward His grace. And while I never thought I’d find myself discussing healthcare in an online forum, perhaps it is by His divine plan that I am here today.

This tragedy is not just a story of violence or injustice—it is a warning from God Himself.

For years, America has turned its back on the values of compassion and love for our neighbors that Christ so clearly instructed us to follow. Healthcare, which should be an expression of God’s mercy, has been turned into a profit-driven enterprise. It breaks my heart to see this nation—so blessed with resources—deny healing to its sick and needy simply because they lack the money to pay.

I do not condone the violence committed by Luigi Mangione. Scripture tells us plainly, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). His actions were wrong, and he will face earthly and eternal consequences. Yet, I cannot help but see his story as a reflection of the desperation that our broken system creates. When people feel abandoned—when they cannot find justice, mercy, or hope—they are driven to acts of despair.

Is this not a wake-up call from the Lord? How many more lives must be lost before we heed His message? Jesus Himself healed the sick, and He never asked for payment or turned anyone away. The Bible reminds us in Matthew 25:40, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me." If we truly wish to call ourselves a God-fearing nation, we must ensure that everyone—rich or poor, young or old—has access to the care they need.

Brother CubicleRebel and CareerCynic, you both are absolutely right: healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy. It should be a reflection of God’s love for all His children. When we allow corporations to profit off suffering, we are sinning against Him. We are ignoring His command to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34).

As for Brian Thompson, I pray for his soul and his family. But I also pray for the countless lives that have been lost due to greed and indifference. This system is not just broken—it is immoral. And unless we repent and turn toward a model of compassion and care, we will continue to face tragedies like this.

God does not send lightning bolts or thunderous proclamations to guide us anymore. Instead, He speaks through events like this—painful as they may be—to urge us to change. Let us heed His warning. Let us demand a healthcare system that reflects His mercy, not the greed of man.

I urge everyone here to pray for change, but also to act. Write to your representatives, vote for leaders who value compassion, and support initiatives that bring us closer to a healthcare system worthy of God’s love. This is not just a political issue; it is a moral and spiritual one.

Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts. May God bless you all and guide us toward a more just and loving nation.

Yours in Christ,
OldTimePreacher