We Were Warned
By Mitch Berg
They warned us that if we voted Republican, extremists would roam the streets murdering their enemies, as their fellow extremist droogs rejoiced.
And they were right.
The meme has traveled about that UHG denies claims at double the national average. That may be true, and that may be utterly without context, and neither I nor the gerbils posting the memes know one way or the other.
Of course, most of the people rejoicing (not exaggerating) Thompson’s murder do it by way of saying it’s high time we adopt “single payer” government healthcare.
Of course, if they think a UHG denial causes problems, wait’ll they get a load of the “cost cutting” measures single-payer systems are moving into.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:33 am
It is my understanding that UHCG doesn’t actually provide health insurance in MN because MN law prevents for-profit health insurance companies from doing business in MN. So, you have the largest health insurance company in the US (by market share and revenue) unable to provide health insurance in its home state.
This may be why no MNns know anything about UHC and its products. Well, that and UHCG is very secretive. For example, find the location of their world headquarters and use the google man to “drive” there; unmarked, totally nondescript building cleverly placed behind some shrubbery.
Anyway, the rest of the country is very aware of UHC and its reputation as, um, Scrooge-like. The details released so far of this murder of the CEO indicates a very high level of anger and funding.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:35 am
^ I always wanted to use that word “shrubbery” since I heard it in MP’s Holy Grail.
December 6th, 2024 at 9:19 am
Well noted on the tendency of single payer systems to kill their difficulties. We have, with socialistic plans from government, more or less a reversal of the original charter for human government from Genesis 9:6.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:37 am
After looking a little more, among the hunting ear bud products on the market are a number that will cost as much as regular hearing aids. For example, $1600/pair (OtoPro Soundgear Phantom) to $3600/pair (Tetra Hearing Multi-Pursuit CustomShield). The reviews were very positive nonetheless.
I don’t know enough to make a judgement one way or another.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:37 am
^ Sorry about that. Wrong thread.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Busy street in a major city.
Silencer.
Engraved bullets.
Calmly executed plan.
Clever get-away using a bike in traffic.
From watching crime shows, I conclude this killer was not crazy or impulsive, but methodical and planned well in advance to acquire the weapon and modify the ammo.
The messages on the ammo could be a clever ruse to distract the police into thinking it was a revenge killing, or could be intentional messaging intended to warn other insurance companies to play fair.
Remember the kid who the Secret Service almost allowed to kill Trump? This guy is even better than than him. Netflix execs are screaming at staff to find him to sign the movie deal “based on a true story.”
Acquiring a pistol with silencer that can’t be traced back to you, takes time and money. Engraving ammunition takes tools and skill. Setting up an ambush requires intel on the victim’s precise schedule. Having escape transportation at hand requires planning.
So who trained and financed him?
December 6th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
Big,
He also paid for his hotel/hostel bills with cash. He was definitely trying to stay off the radar. Thompson was a subject of an insider trading controversy. Also, UHC was hit by a pretty big hack a couple of months ago. Side note: “coincidentally”, Nancy Insider Trader Piglosi exercised some stock positions in Palo Alto Networks, who were hired to track the breach down. I believe Thompson was also going to be testifying to congress. Was someone trying to prevent his testimony?
December 6th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
It strikes me that this resembles little so much as a Mob hit, which would place whoever planned and funded it in the “interesting” position of killing people in the promotion of health care.
December 7th, 2024 at 11:01 am
It seems to me that many Republicans are reflexively defending the insurance companies in the aftermath of the assassination.
It is possible for multiple things to be true at the same time.
It is possible to agree that our health insurance industry is as f-ed up as a soup sandwich while also agreeing that the murder of a CEO is not the appropriate response and that celebrating his death is evil.
It is possible to agree that our health insurance industry is a mess while also holding a firm belief that a government takeover of the industry, or even just that more government involvement, is the solution.
Anyone who’s had a serious medical issue in the past ten years and has had to go through the rigamarole and jump through the hoops to get the insurance companies to do what we pay them to do can clearly see that the insurance companies are not there to help us or take care of us…they are there to redistribute our money to their executives and trickle whatever crumbs remain down to their customers…if they absolutely can’t get out of it.
There needs to be reform…but that doesn’t include assassinating the executives or granting the power over our health care decisions to the government.
In fact, government involvement and passing regulations and laws supported by the insurance industry lobbyists is part of why we’re in this sorry state to begin with.
December 7th, 2024 at 10:05 pm
jdm
while this is true(“It is my understanding that UHCG doesn’t actually provide health insurance in MN because MN law prevents for-profit health insurance companies”) UHG virtually owns Medica(www.medica.com) – all the backend services of Medica are provided by the various subsidiaries of UHG. Mike Hatch tried to divorce Medica from UHG (2000-2002) and failed. The moment for profit health insurance is permitted in MN, UHG will purchase Medica outright.
December 7th, 2024 at 10:13 pm
Sailorcurt
to your point, lawyers from UHG & Aetna, in particular, were responsible for drafting significant portions of the Obamacare legislation – a prominent example of Regulatory Capture.
December 8th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Mac, thanks for the info and correction.
December 9th, 2024 at 8:00 am
Mac,
Totally correct! In fact, Obama pretty much let the HMO and pharmaceutical companies have carte blanch if they endorsed his legislation. Funny that no one is talking about that aspect. On the other hand, there is some information circulating on the dark that suggests the assassination was carried out to prevent Thompson from testifying to congress and perhaps exposing that.
On another note, I heard a commenter on one of the other conservative stations, state that the CEO of Blue Cross has been sequestered in her home out of fear that this will escalate via copycats.
December 9th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Looks like they got him, and we are of course shocked that he’s a private school grad who read and admired the Unabomber, and who apparently had a lot of time on his hands, as well as chronic back pain, perhaps from an injury.
December 10th, 2024 at 5:02 am
My personal experience with United Health involves my wife, who has significant ongoing orthopedic issues related to scoliosis, which will never go away. She shopped for plans, was told by an employee at a UHC that a particular provider was covered, but in fact was not. So necessary spine surgery was paid for out of pocket, even as the company didn’t factually dispute our claim. Note to others, always record ever conversation you have. While the murder of Brian Thompson was heinous, I fully understand the rage now sweeping the internet. Just remember who said, “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,” That’s who should be taking the heat.
December 10th, 2024 at 10:25 am
^ Thanks for adding this even after this thread has gone stale.