Insurance CEO's murder: why the gloating?
On December 4, Brian Thompson, CEO of the health insurance company United Healthcare, was shot dead in broad daylight outside the New York hotel where the group's annual investor conference was due to take place. The alleged perpetrator, 26-year-old Luigi M., was arrested on Monday, and is now being celebrated as a national hero by many Americans who are deeply frustrated with the country's healthcare system. Commentators seek explanations.
Deep distrust of all institutions
The reactions to the murder reveal the Americans' anger at the system, The Irish Independent concludes:
“There's so much to grieve in the shooting of Thompson: the loss of life, the pain of his family, the continued fraying of people's sense of safety. But the assumptions surrounding his killing are something else to mourn. They reflect the distrust and anger connected to virtually every institution in the US that governs, informs, protects and employs. Whether it's the 'deep state', fake news or the corporate overlords, all of it is suspect. That cynicism breeds the belief that salvation will come only through some real-life superhero, a conspiracy-fuelling guru or a self-appointed vigilante. ... There are no heroes in the shooting of Thompson.”
Loss of trust in democracy
Süddeutsche Zeitung finds the jubilation on social media alarming:
“Large sections of American society have apparently reached a point where they consider murder to be a legitimate means of defending themselves against injustice. Anything goes if it means it will finally change something. This reveals a sense of helplessness and a complete loss of trust in democracy. ... A normal instrument in the democratic process would be to elect politicians who will reform this broken system. Or to switch from the worst insurers, of which United Healthcare is one, to better ones. But fewer and fewer people believe that such steps can make a difference.”
Widespread frustration with the healthcare system
Rzeczpospolita examines the reasons for the gloating:
“On social media there is no lack of expressions of solidarity with the accused. ... Americans are in a hopeless situation. Many of them have no choice but to take out expensive insurance policies. However, the quality of these policies leaves much to be desired. Statistics show that despite the high costs of health insurance, around one-sixth of applications for reimbursement for treatment in the event of illness or accident are rejected.”
Take this as a warning
Frustration with the healthcare system is also growing in Sweden, Aftonbladet points out:
“The healthcare system here has been privatised and starved out. The waiting lists for urgent operations are too long and resources are too limited. At the same time, more and more Swedes are taking out private health insurance. ... The staff who switch to the private sector are urgently needed in the public sector. The fact that some people can bypass the queues goes against the basic principle of Swedish healthcare, namely treatment according to need. ... As long as these injustices keep growing, we needn't be surprised if frustration also grows.”