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UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

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Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#171

What a dystopian world we live in where oligarchs controlling anti-trust companies deny medical coverage [0]. Am I surprised this happened... [0] https://www.propublica.org/article/unitedhealth-healthcare-i...

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>The main reason for that is because Americans consume too much health care.

No, come on man, this is easily googleable. Americans go to the doctor less than other countries, they stay in the hospital less than other countries, they have lower life expectancy, infant and mother mortality than other countries. If you want to know why we spend so damned much, it's because we're billed 2-3x as much for the same care as other countries.

Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#172

CNBC reports that the gunman used a silencer. Wtf?

Only a handful of states require a permit to buy a firearm. A suppressor is equally easy to procure, and failing that, can be machined by anyone somewhat competent with a lathe. Won't link to it here, Youtube videos available with a quick web search. https://brilliantmaps.com/buy-gun-map/

Suppressors are not equally easy to legally procure!

Suppressors/Silencers are federally regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA) and are treated similarly to machine guns and sawed-off shotguns (the import/manufacture of those are further regulated by later legislation).

From Wikipedia[1]: Private owners wishing to purchase an NFA item must obtain approval from the ATF, pass an extensive background check to include submitting a photograph and fingerprints, fully register the firearm, receive ATF written permission before moving the firearm across state lines, and pay a tax.

And I think you may have understated the ease of manufacturing. Especially if someone only needs to use it once and don't care about the legality.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act#Registra...

Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's wild that we let insurance companies label government triage as "death panels" while for-profit denial innovation got a free pass.

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By switching jobs? That's not always feasible for many reasons.

Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#175

This case aside, I think generally in both the US and Canada it has been very safe for politically influential and high net worth individuals. In Russia, things are different: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspicious_deaths_of_notable_R...

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Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#177
post #175

This case aside, I think generally in both the US and Canada it has been very safe for politically influential and high net worth individuals. In Russia, things are different: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspicious_deaths_of_notable_R...

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> I think you're forgetting at least Jeffrey Epstein, Seth Rich, the Boeing whistleblowers, and probably many others?

Even if we assume all of those are nefarious, that is much fewer people over a much longer period. If you have to add "probably many others", it feels like you are just extrapolating in your favor without evidence.

Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Costly permit. Requires authorization by high-ranking NYPD. Only given out to people in certain jobs or with bribes. The only practice range is in Ridgeland. You're required to transport it in your own car, in the trunk, ammo separate from the gun, and only to and from the range. That puts it well beyond the reach of the vast majority of NYC residents.

Supreme court got rid of may issue gun licenses. All gun permits in the US are now shall issue.

Yep - most of people's impressions of NYC's gun laws/rights are really outdated..

Re: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in Manhattan

#180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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The primary reason for the cost difference is the massive network of middlemen injected into the system, and rampant profiteering by for-profit healthcare companies. Average cost of 1 vial of insulin in France: $9.08 Average cost of 1 vial of insulin in the US: $98.70 HDThoreaun: huffing some libertarian shit "The people are using too much insulin." https://www.rand.org/pubs/articles/2021/the-astronomical-pri... http…

> the massive network of middlemen injected into the system

Does anyone have a good reference for this? It's something that I inherently assume exists but would love to see a flowchart of how rampant it is and where different layers are siphoning their penny.

Would that even be possible?

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