By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione’s legal defense fund has garnered significant support, reflecting widespread frustration with the for-profit healthcare system. Supporters, spanning various political viewpoints, see the alleged act as a response to the dehumanizing practices of the healthcare industry. While public sentiment suggests discontent, the article questions whether this support will translate into meaningful change. The author proposes a shift from protest to direct action, such as a strike by healthcare providers against aspects of their work dictated by corporate control, to reclaim healthcare for all.
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Luigi, a Year Later: How to Build a Movement Against Parasitic Health Insurance Giants | The Widespread Support for Mangione Shows America is Ready to Mobilize to Build a More Humane Health Care System, is a fitting title for the conversation that we are about to have. It’s a statement reflecting the deep frustrations bubbling under the surface of the American healthcare system. It’s also about the widespread desire for something better.
We need to acknowledge the core problem: the system is broken. We have a system where a simple doctor’s visit can leave you with a bewildering bill, a system where preventative care isn’t prioritized because the business model demands more profit from sickness. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a fundamental failure to provide for basic human needs. We spend a fortune on healthcare and still have outcomes that are worse than those of other developed countries. This isn’t just about healthcare; it’s a failure of our government and our society.
The current political landscape makes any meaningful change incredibly difficult. The influence of insurance companies is huge, and they actively work to maintain the status quo. If you look at the larger picture, this is the same pattern that hinders progress in other areas like high-speed rail and renewable energy. Powerful industries have a financial interest in blocking anything that might threaten their profits.
It is disheartening, to put it lightly, that after all this time and all this discussion, the same political dynamics are at play. Despite public outcry and a clear need for change, many still vote against anything that even resembles universal healthcare. It’s easy to be frustrated when, despite being in a fortunate financial situation, you’re still paying exorbitant monthly premiums that barely cover the basics. MRI scans, for example, cost thousands of dollars with insurance, while they would have only cost a few hundred dollars without. It makes you ask, what are we paying for? And what if you are on minimum wage? A doctor’s visit is something that you would not be able to afford.
The solution is clear. The only path forward is to build a movement demanding a more humane healthcare system. There has to be a focus on the most logical solution, single-payer government funded healthcare. It is not communism; it is a human right. We see that the current system is a for-profit death panel and, unless we get single-payer or some form of universal healthcare, the US is not a first-world country.
This isn’t just about healthcare; it is also about the whole system. A movement needs to grow that challenges the influence of corporate money in politics. We must refuse to support any politician who accepts money from insurance lobbyists. There is no other way. This is a class war, and the wealthy are using every means possible, including the legal system, to protect their interests. We need to demand living wages and a healthcare system that treats people with dignity.