Masuk Free Press

Healthcare in the United States is a constant source of controversy. Though our thousands of hospitals nationwide have the newest and best technology, are home to the top doctors in the world and are renowned for their care, the U.S. itself ranks poorly in healthcare compared to other similar countries. 

“I think it depends, like there’s certain industries in healthcare that still focus, I think, on the person, but then others that are really just more concerned about the dollar,” said Masuk business teacher Allyson Danso.

Our horrible healthcare has pretty much cemented itself into American culture. It is the basis of movies, the cause of many unhappy lives and also the reason for the occurrence of certain… crimes. 

The many complaints lodged by the American people about our country’s healthcare system finally broke through the brick wall after UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside his hotel on his way to a meeting. After Thompson’s death was confirmed, many people took to social media to express their joy and excitement about the matter.  

There are a lot of people who have been hurt by the healthcare system and insurance companies and, naturally, they would probably be no less than pleased about one of its industry leaders getting taken out. But the sheer amount of celebration happening over this is disturbing, to say the least.

“It is a complicated industry. Something that has been around long before I have obviously ever been alive, but as an adult navigating it… I can see where people get frustrated, I also see where doctors get frustrated…” said Susan Clark, a history teacher at Masuk.

As a minor, I don’t understand all of the complexities of the healthcare system or all of how it has affected America, but I do understand right from wrong, and last time I checked, murder is wrong.

“I don’t think that murdering somebody is ever okay. So I am surprised that somebody gunned him down, especially somebody who didn’t seem to be having a lot of issues with paying for healthcare from what I read about it,” said Danso. 

  As the New York Police Department worked to find Thompson’s murderer, The FBI eventually expanded their search outside of New York, making an arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania based on a tip from a McDonalds employee.

Luigi Mangione is a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, and, objectively speaking, attractive. Online fandoms have popped up centered around him, people have made T-shirts with his face, there was a lookalike contest for the killer held in New York City and so on. Being the person accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO has made him a hero to many people, and being a mysterious good-looking Ivy League graduate has made him even more appealing and interesting to the public. All of this is reminiscent of the Dahmer trend from a few years ago, which is not a connection that I enjoy making. 

“I think it’s a bit much, because like, come on, a dude died because somebody else decided ‘you know what, you suck.’ So, I don’t think it’s exactly fair to call him a hero, not exactly my definition,” said sophomore Daniel Shurygin.

It is not surprising that, with how today’s society is, something like this murder has occurred, but the way people are turning Mangione into a figurehead to be followed is alarming.

Data: Emerson College Polling. 2024. Share who say the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing was “acceptable” or “somewhat acceptable,” by age. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2024/12/17/united-healthcare-ceo-killing-poll

“I’m not surprised because the world is crazy in that respect. You know we’re really going to have to really unpack what he did, because he was never really denied his care, and it didn’t sound like it was financial hardship if he was denied his care, just understanding his background,” said Clark.

The love being shown for him, the man who might have murdered someone in cold blood, has highlighted two important things. One, the Dahmer trend is still present in our society. It’s not that it ever went away, or that Luigi Mangione is anything like Jeffrey Dahmer. But the fact remains that once again people are falling for a potentially extremely flawed person with newfound murderous tendencies over social and political beliefs. Two, the American healthcare system is really bad. Someone being killed for any reason is horrible, but when that reason is healthcare, something that is supposed to help people, it should make the higher-ups in the government ponder.

I also think that we as a country need to stop and take a breath to consider how we have gotten to the point where we are now idolizing a murderer like we would any other mainstream celebrity. Copycats could come from this, which might lead to even more carnage and illegal activities. Please America, do better.