Read before We Write – Listen before We Speak

On December 4th, many Americans felt shock and a blend of emotions at the news report of a mysterious hooded man who shot and killed Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHeathcare. (USA Today Timeline found HERE.)

Reports came and went about this assassination-style killing on the open street at 6:30 am, the mysterious figure, the unusual gun, and the effort to avoid revealing his face. People began talking about this for days.

It wasn’t long before influencers began sharing provocative ideas about negatives in the health insurance model that began to sound suspiciously like justifications for murder. They said Insurance companies profit when they deny coverage. Insurance companies seek to squeeze profits out of low income people. They’re not necassarily wrong, but that is not an argument for murder.

Some even recorded conspiracy theory videos about this guy being a patsy or a fake.

Emotion, Especially Fear or Anger, Reduces Thinking

Anger is a subtle emotion that helps everyday people stop thinking and start to shift their morals.

There are plenty of conversations to be had about the flaws in the terrible health insurance business model (thank you ObamaCare for some fixes). There is much that can be said about a capitalistic system that prioritizes profits above all else.

And yet, those arguments do not justify murder or any kind of violence.

Roffino’s Request: Don’t Write Like an Emotional Non-Thinker

As this story, and the information about this kid develop, I have a request of you (I want people to respect what you have to say):

Don’t post/write anything until you’ve read enough and researched this.

In the absence of data, people make assumptions. Those assumptions are often wrong. People do this to the detriment of their own credibility, to the harm of the people they write about, and to the harm of the communities they seek to inform and/or represent. This is why fear appeals about immigrants are (morally) wrong, even though they often work.

Sure, this alleged shooter kid came from wealth. However, that doesn’t make him represent all rich kids.

Sure, this kid may have been denied coverage (most of us don’t know much about his story yet anyways). However, that does not mean he represents a broader group of people who have fought with insurance.

What we DO NOT Need – and What we DO Need (Research First)

So many videos and articles talk about this kid like they know what they’re talking about – and the comments. Wow. Sure, “Denial and Delay” sound like despicable policies, but do not trust comments and “facts” that don’t come from credible sources.

And these people talking about this alleged shooter being cute – I mean, there will always be comedians out there, and the world is better with comedy, but come on. Let’s focus.

Americans need more information before we can really make determining statements about his actions or his causes.

I DO want the world to be different.

I REALLY want more mental health programs, community support initiatives, and communication models that help some of these complicated issues find change.

I honestly want some serious structural changes in the Health Insurance system. Companies should not be structured to make more money when they deny coverage – Health Insurance is a deeply flawed and dangerous model in our current “profit-above-all” American thinking.

But none of this justifies violence.

Hold the Line, Thinkers

College educated people, and/or people connected to college-level critical thinking conversations MUST hold the line with thinking in this country.

We must prevent public conversations from devolving into calls for blood and simplified solutions that are not realistic.  By the way, it is okay to ask, “What’s your source?”

We have to do our research and reading first before we make determinations about these issues.

What do you believe in general about health care and health insurance in first-world countries?

What do you believe in general about strategies for communicating change?

BUT HOLD THAT THOUGHT. Use those research skills.

Be sure you know what the heck you’re talking about before you put your hands up and clear your throat. Credibility comes from slowly, steadily showing you can be counted on and trusted.

Curious about the Health Insurance “Industry’s avaricious practices”? Read THIS from VOX to get started.

Want to learn about the History of Health Policy in the US? START HERE.

Want to learn about the History of CEO Salaries in the US? Try THIS.

Don’t know what to trust on your own? Step 1, just be asking the question about whether you can trust a source – it helps a lot. Then maybe try “Media Bias Fact Check” for some bigger sources.

When you’re ready, SPEAK UP. The world needs the guidance of people who know how to sort out the info without lies and bias.

Tell us how to think about this.