Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

Thoughts on the shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO and health insurance in general.

Dec 05, 2024

Hey, y’all! As you may know by now, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed just outside a Manhattan hotel yesterday morning (Wednesday, December 4, 2024).

According to multiple news sources, New York authorities believe that the shooting was a premeditated act. At the crime scene, shell casings were allegedly found with “the words ‘deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’ written on them.”1

As of today, ABC News reports that New York authorities are closing in on a possible suspect and “have sought a search warrant for a location in New York City where they believe the suspect may have been staying”.2

While I don’t consider the health insurance business to be benevolent and wonder if they’re nothing more than bean counters playing doctor (e.g., denying coverage, especially when a doctor recommends a procedure or treatment to save someone’s life), I don’t believe that it is right to take matters into our own hands as the alleged gunman did in the case of Mr. Thompson. In other words… TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT!

I believe that the healthcare system in the United States needs improvement, especially in relieving the financial burden on those who need care. We need to urge politicians on both sides of the aisle to work together on solutions that will help people get the healthcare they need, be it preventive care, fixing a broken bone, or a catastrophic injury or illness.

The solution doesn’t have to be a program totally run by the government (e.g., Britain’s National Health Service), but in my honest opinion, any solution should involve an equal partnership with government (federal, state, and local), health insurance companies, and providers (doctors, nurses, and hospitals). Faith-based and civic organizations should also have a say and a place at the table in the quest to find a solution beneficial to all Americans.

The goal of such a program would be to provide healthcare at a cost where the insured gets the care they need and insurers and providers are still able to make a profit. In any event, no one should have to go into crippling debt or beg others to help (e.g., GoFundMe) because of a catastrophic injury or illness.

For example, if a person needs a lifesaving treatment for cancer, the healthcare providers and insurance companies should work hand-in-hand to make sure the insured (or those on their insurance such as their spouse and children) receives the healthcare they need.

And finally, I wonder why “Thompson did not travel with any personal security detail despite known threats against him”.3 This doesn’t mean that one should be paranoid, but one does need to take some kind of reasonable measure to ensure their safety and that of their loved ones, especially if they are a high-profile individual such as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a well-known entertainer.

Again, two wrongs don’t make a right! No one makes positive change in this world through violent means (e.g., assassination). True positive change is not easy, but it is incumbent upon each of us, regardless of race, color, religion, political affiliation, etc., to work together to make the positive change we all want to see for ourselves and our fellow human beings. Martin Luther King, Jr. best summed it up with these words…

“We must learn to live together as (fellow human beings) or perish together as fools.”

Our condolences and prayers are with Mr. Thompson’s family as they grieve the loss of their beloved husband and father.

Those are my thoughts. Thank you for reading, please subscribe (if you haven’t done so already), and share this post with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Until next time, please be kind to one another and…

Steve's Random Thoughts

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Steve's Random Thoughts

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

Thoughts on the shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO and health insurance in general.

Peace Out, Y’all!

Discussion about this post