Sometimes you see a headline that you can't believe was printed. But when you dig in, it is as bad as it sounds. Count on the Times and its Anti-Anti staffer Bret Stephens to beclown themselves.
It amazes me how these Talking Heads and disingenuous journalists think that just because they write it… It will make it so. The majority of Americans know clearly what Brian Thompson was versus Luigi Mangione is. No article is going to change what we know to be true versus the perception they are trying to project upon us. I believe even the most cynical of Americans is not gonna believe that gaslighting. Americans are fickle… And stupid. But not that damn fickle… And stupid. IJS.
Thompson was no saint. He was accused of insider trading and fraud, had been arrested for a DUI for which he served a couple of days in jail and had been separated from his wife, living in separate houses for years. Not condoning him getting shot, but Mr. Stephens is whitewashing the guy. https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/slain-healthcare-ceos-life-airbrushed
Luigi Mangione was living with severe back pain, no relief in sight. Before that experience, he was a smart, highly educated and popular guy. He certainly had no training for debilitating pain. Of course he developed major depression. His body and brain betrayed him. So far, that's all anyone knows.
And yeah, Brett Stephens is a whiny botch. Always.
I'm not reading anything into this case because every piece of evidence I've heard contradicts some other piece of evidence. I have a hard time believing both theories: lone gunman and hired assassin. I've also heard him referred to as a patsy and that one might fit yet I remain skeptical of that as well.
On another note: while I feel sorry for Mangione I feel like if he did the crime he deserves a maximum of life in prison.
All of that said, I don't feel killing Thompson was/is the right answer. He did a lot of crappy things. Thompson, like all the other healthcare industry CEOs and boards of directors, deserves to face legal consequences for the disregard for human health and life.
Brian Thompson and working class hero didn't belong in the same sentence.
I think this is a terribly tragic situation for all involved. A man in the prime of his life lost his life and future when he was murdered. His wife lost her husband and his two sons lost their father. They will always have the horror of his murder in their hearts. Also, the family of the murderer has lost him and he will lose his freedom for life. For what? What did this accomplish? Nothing!
I have United Health Care Medicare Advantage through my former employer. I don’t have to go to healthcare providers in a certain network. My insurance pays most of the cost of my 14 medications and most of the cost of surgeries, hospitalization, and doctor visits. I can’t complain about it. Yes, there is a struggle to pay what I do have to pay, but nothing like what I would have to pay without insurance. What we need to focus on is that there is an abundance of super wealthy people in this country who control more money than the middle class and poor combined. Yet they do not pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as the rest of us and Trump will be giving them more tax breaks as soon as he takes office. Why? Are they hurting for money? No. It is simply greed. My retirement income for one year is less than those men and women pay for a fancy watch. That is just not right. They should pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as we do. In that way the deficit in the National Budget would soon be reduced and even paid off.
“It’s not the gun! It’s mental health!” I hate these words as much as I hate “Thoughts and Prayers”. I have not heard much of either from our lawmakers. Because only one person died, not 20 children, I guess. Still, I blame the gun. Both families devastated because we don’t have health care, we have sick care. And we don’t have a citizenry willing to elect a Congress that will pass reasonable gun control laws that will protect people from themselves.
I started smoking at 13 and for the next 42 years, I was so addicted that the few times I quit (once for nearly 2 years) when I resumed smoking, I smoked more than before! Ultimately, I developed a terminal case of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) requiring a bilateral or double lung transplant.
Further surgeries were warranted due to the steroid induced side effects like steroid induced osteoporosis, steroid induced hyperglycemia and steroid induced avasular necrosis.
Now I am in good health but my meds cost roughly $200K yearly. Even if I made that much (not even close) I couldn't spend it all on meds! What about food, shelter, transportation, clothing, my uncovered medical costs? Without the ACA, I'd be too expensive to live.
There is something wrong with leaving citizens like myself and all of the others dangling on the whim of the tangerine turd! If healthcare such as it is, is upended, we'd all be in the pot.
Conclusion; hell no I'm not satisfied with my "healthcare!" And every single GD year they foist more of the costs onto me even while I'm paying them more for coverage. What kind of three card monte BS is that?
I think what I really object to is Bugs insistence that people love their health insurance. No, people are happy to have insurance because not having it is truly an accident waiting to happen. Tying insurance to our jobs is also fucked up because it can make changing jobs much more difficult if the new plan doesn’t have your doctors in network.
It amazes me how these Talking Heads and disingenuous journalists think that just because they write it… It will make it so. The majority of Americans know clearly what Brian Thompson was versus Luigi Mangione is. No article is going to change what we know to be true versus the perception they are trying to project upon us. I believe even the most cynical of Americans is not gonna believe that gaslighting. Americans are fickle… And stupid. But not that damn fickle… And stupid. IJS.
They will try their best to stomp down the justified anger of the American populace! Not gonna work.
Thompson was no saint. He was accused of insider trading and fraud, had been arrested for a DUI for which he served a couple of days in jail and had been separated from his wife, living in separate houses for years. Not condoning him getting shot, but Mr. Stephens is whitewashing the guy. https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/slain-healthcare-ceos-life-airbrushed
Luigi Mangione was living with severe back pain, no relief in sight. Before that experience, he was a smart, highly educated and popular guy. He certainly had no training for debilitating pain. Of course he developed major depression. His body and brain betrayed him. So far, that's all anyone knows.
And yeah, Brett Stephens is a whiny botch. Always.
Can you imagine if Luigi had turned out to be a young man of color?
I'm not reading anything into this case because every piece of evidence I've heard contradicts some other piece of evidence. I have a hard time believing both theories: lone gunman and hired assassin. I've also heard him referred to as a patsy and that one might fit yet I remain skeptical of that as well.
On another note: while I feel sorry for Mangione I feel like if he did the crime he deserves a maximum of life in prison.
All of that said, I don't feel killing Thompson was/is the right answer. He did a lot of crappy things. Thompson, like all the other healthcare industry CEOs and boards of directors, deserves to face legal consequences for the disregard for human health and life.
Brian Thompson and working class hero didn't belong in the same sentence.
I think this is a terribly tragic situation for all involved. A man in the prime of his life lost his life and future when he was murdered. His wife lost her husband and his two sons lost their father. They will always have the horror of his murder in their hearts. Also, the family of the murderer has lost him and he will lose his freedom for life. For what? What did this accomplish? Nothing!
I have United Health Care Medicare Advantage through my former employer. I don’t have to go to healthcare providers in a certain network. My insurance pays most of the cost of my 14 medications and most of the cost of surgeries, hospitalization, and doctor visits. I can’t complain about it. Yes, there is a struggle to pay what I do have to pay, but nothing like what I would have to pay without insurance. What we need to focus on is that there is an abundance of super wealthy people in this country who control more money than the middle class and poor combined. Yet they do not pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as the rest of us and Trump will be giving them more tax breaks as soon as he takes office. Why? Are they hurting for money? No. It is simply greed. My retirement income for one year is less than those men and women pay for a fancy watch. That is just not right. They should pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as we do. In that way the deficit in the National Budget would soon be reduced and even paid off.
“It’s not the gun! It’s mental health!” I hate these words as much as I hate “Thoughts and Prayers”. I have not heard much of either from our lawmakers. Because only one person died, not 20 children, I guess. Still, I blame the gun. Both families devastated because we don’t have health care, we have sick care. And we don’t have a citizenry willing to elect a Congress that will pass reasonable gun control laws that will protect people from themselves.
I started smoking at 13 and for the next 42 years, I was so addicted that the few times I quit (once for nearly 2 years) when I resumed smoking, I smoked more than before! Ultimately, I developed a terminal case of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) requiring a bilateral or double lung transplant.
Further surgeries were warranted due to the steroid induced side effects like steroid induced osteoporosis, steroid induced hyperglycemia and steroid induced avasular necrosis.
Now I am in good health but my meds cost roughly $200K yearly. Even if I made that much (not even close) I couldn't spend it all on meds! What about food, shelter, transportation, clothing, my uncovered medical costs? Without the ACA, I'd be too expensive to live.
There is something wrong with leaving citizens like myself and all of the others dangling on the whim of the tangerine turd! If healthcare such as it is, is upended, we'd all be in the pot.
Conclusion; hell no I'm not satisfied with my "healthcare!" And every single GD year they foist more of the costs onto me even while I'm paying them more for coverage. What kind of three card monte BS is that?
The health care in this country is for Profit. It’s atrocious. This is a sad event. Should be a wake up call. Not a sob story
I think what I really object to is Bugs insistence that people love their health insurance. No, people are happy to have insurance because not having it is truly an accident waiting to happen. Tying insurance to our jobs is also fucked up because it can make changing jobs much more difficult if the new plan doesn’t have your doctors in network.
Exactly--I have to go through preauthorization whenever there is a shift in employment. It sux.