So Was The Shooter Justified in Assassinating the United Healthcare CEO?
Poor man's Unabomber
We have learned more about hot pants 20-something CEO killer Luigi Mangione in 24 hours than Thomas Matthew Crooks, Trump’s almost-assassin, after five drawn-out months.
America! In Crooks's case, the FBI probably doesn’t want to post details about a CIA/Mossad operation. Or, it could also be the simple fact that one killer is dead and one’s alive. We know more about Nicholas Cruz than we do Adam Lanza.
Yet this recent CEO killer has done the unthinkable—brought the fractured right and left factions together in a rare, uneasy moment of unity.
Even right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro’s audience has ratioed him for calling the celebration of the killer a “leftist” phenomenon. Glorious!
This killing happened right where I used to roam in New York City. In fact, looking at the profile—a disaffected, restless young man—it probably should’ve been me in his place!
Or one of my awesome readers! (kidding)
The million-dollar question is, does this grassroots movement against elites and the healthcare system justify the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson? And is there anything in Luigi’s manifesto that will have ripple effects?
Was the NY CEO Killer Justified?
If you don’t already know, Luigi Mangione is a filthy rich, extremely good-looking, fit and athletically talented, intelligent 20-something who everyone who knew spoke highly of.
It’s kinda blackpilling. Some people are blessed with everything and still think their best chance to change the system is to blow someone’s brains out.
First, we all know that healthcare in America is crap:
Medical Debt Crisis: Over 100 million Americans—nearly 41% of adults—are burdened by medical debt, with many forced to choose between paying for healthcare and basic necessities.
Skyrocketing Costs: The U.S. spends more than $12,000 per capita annually on healthcare, nearly double that of other high-income countries, yet has worse health outcomes, such as lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic disease.
Exorbitant CEO Salaries: In 2022, the average compensation for healthcare CEOs at the largest publicly traded U.S. companies was $15.3 million, while many Americans faced crippling medical debt and were unable to afford basic healthcare services.'
All that shocked me while researching.
Yet, when it comes to the murder, I have a hard time placing the line between justified and unjustified actions.
From a utilitarian point of view, it's still too early to say if United CEO Brian Thompson’s death has benefited the majority in some way. From Kant's perspective, it's a crime, and there's no way it could ever be justified because of the rigorous nature of Kantian ethics. If I were asked to take a stand, however, I would say the shooter is not justified for his crimes. You can't simply allow people to kill others because of ideals since that would lead to total chaos and, ultimately, society's destruction.
But What if There’s No Other Way to Point Out a Broken System…
It doesn’t take much to poke holes in my stance—there’s a ready-made counterargument just waiting to be tossed my way:
What if an entity is oppressing people and trampling their rights? Is it never okay to fight back against it? Do you think we should all still live in religious autocracies?
This person would argue, do you think the British Civil War, the French Revolution, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, none of these events should have happened because "you can't allow people to kill others because of ideals"?
It all sounds compelling… if you’re a decently smart high school student.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” - Thomas Jefferson
People in this group who hype up a killing as if they understand violence or war, like Jefferson, are kidding themselves. They probably haven’t ever been in a fight! And don’t get me wrong, after the CEO shooting, I didn’t exactly hope they’d catch the kid either—it felt like a shrug moment.
But egging on this event to start a revolution is a sick joke.
The main problem with the argument is that hindsight is 20/20. People cite the British Civil War, the French Revolution, the American Revolution, etc., as arguments that killing in the name of ideals can bring a net good to society. Still, you're ignoring that the 20th-century communists and nazis also killed many people because their ideals justified them.
Imagine that the killings of CEOs went on and a revolution would come about. Revolutions are always messy. If we'd all lose half our money and eat shitty crackers for a hundred years, we'd write about Mario as the person who started the downfall of free, rich, and messed up (but mostly good) America. If it turned out systemic inequality was erased and society would flourish, we'd herald him as the person who started this movement and make him a martyr.
It’s a giant risk nonetheless and only worth it if we have no other choice.
Furthermore, I'm engaging this idea with the naive assumption that you can measure whether a certain revolution was a net good or a net negative on society, which is a whole 'nother can of worms.
Manifesto Confirms: Luigi Mangione Is Jesus Reborn
His manifesto (see here) mostly reflects a deeply personal, raw crime, and entirely his own. It's pretty short for a manifesto (2 pages long), and it’s written like shit. Sorry if the guy is your hero. He has a part that says, “You see, in Gladiator 1...” and I almost spit out my coffee. Maybe he should have written, “You see, when the Avengers were trying to defeat Thanos...”
Luigi’s manifesto wobble between almost there and barely-formed, but I will say that the raw emotion under it all hits hard:
His mother suffered for decades with a back condition with UHG as her insurer.
They took all their money and never helped her.
They required advanced imaging tests to see specialists
They then required more imaging and scheduled it for months later when they would have to pay cash again
All they did was take our cash and leave her in pain
Then Luigi got hurt in a surfing accident and it was the same for him
The person I shot is my literal enemy and I did a good deed by defeating him
Pic related
The chief principle in his manifesto is that profiteering from denying people money for medical care is evil. Agree or disagree, that's the principle. Don't need to be rich or poor to accept it.
With that said, Luigi’s manifesto is like a rough draft littered with incomplete thoughts. Next to it, the writings of Ted Kaczynski, Timothy McVeigh, and Osama Bin Laden look like Ulysess.
As UCLA professor James Q. Wilson wrote of Kacyznski, “The Unabomber Manifesto is a carefully reasoned, artfully written paper… If it is the work of a madman then the writings of many political philosophers: Jean Jacques Rousseau, Tom Paine, Karl Marx — are scarcely more sane.”
Ted's renown is entirely based on the manifesto and the man in the cabin mythology. Luigi's is entirely based on the target and his looks/status. They're like the inverse of each other. Ted's targets had barely anything to do with his message, and Luigi's manifesto is emotional, convoluted, and raw.
Yet, I do think Luigi will inspire people in some way.
How? I’m not sure.
This case is too big. It feels like the next OJ trial.
In closing, I don’t want the world we live in to have this need for unremitting assassinations, revolutions, and violence. But the influence of this murder is undeniable and inconclusive.
What I do know 100% is that the next person who tries to copycat is in for a rude awakening if they don't get the same level of attention and love.
Great take. I am looking forward to your first novel by the way. I will book my 1st Edition now if possible?