someone is pissed about their zepbound copay

[keangkong]

Oyster didn't kill the dude, as far as I know. He just finds it funny that an immoral millionaire asshole got taken out. 🤷‍♀️ It's not like mourning him will bring him back.

I haven't accused Oyster of killing anyone. (I suspect he is responsible for the deaths of at least a few oysters, but that's okay with me.) When people think the way to right wrongs is violence when there are other alternatives, such as political means, to accomplish the same things, that's a real problem.

 

[chmuse]

I haven't accused Oyster of killing anyone. (I suspect he is responsible for the deaths of at least a few oysters, but that's okay with me.) When people think the way to right wrongs is violence when there are other alternatives, such as political means, to accomplish the same things, that's a real problem.

I know you didn't accuse him of killing anyone. I don't want to put words in his mouth, so this is only my opinion:

There's a difference between thinking violence is the way to right a wrong, and not having sympathy for the guy who was murdered. I don't believe in the death penalty, I don't think the right thing to do was to kill him. I'm also not upset by his death. You know what I mean? I think it was a bit of poetic justice; the way he ran the company led to the deaths of a lot of people. The right thing to do isn't to seek revenge, but it's a very human thing to want to.

But we don't know his motivations- maybe he was just crazy. We won't know more for a while. 🤷‍♀️ I'm not wasting any tears over it though.

Edit: My point is, feelings aren't immoral. Actions are.

 

[hexagonal]

Gross. A man was shot in the back and murdered. Anyone who thinks Luigi is a hero is delusional.

I don't think he's a hero, but I'm also not going to have a single shred of sympathy for this UHC CEO.

1) The insurance industry is a big aspect of why healthcare is unaffordable for so many in America, and UHC is bad even by industry standards. Double the industry average on denied claims
2) The CEO specifically came up through their Medicare Advantage program, and Medicare Advantage is probably the scummiest form of health insurance on the planet. Basically all of them prey on elderly people, cold calling them and trying to trick them into thinking they have to switch off their regular medicare to an advantage plan, often resulting in hugely increased costs and decreased coverage for them. UHC in specific has also been found to be scamming medicare in multiple cases as well.
3) UHC was being investigated by the DOJ, and had known it since last October. In February, shortly before the investigation was going to be announced publicly, he sold $15m in shares, outside of his company trading window, and without going through their exception process. There is no question in my mind the timing of the sale was to maximize his own personal profit before the investigation caused the share price to drop.

This man screwed over everyday people with his top-down policies to maximize denials. He screwed over the elderly in particular with medicare advantage. He screwed over the government, and thus all taxpayers. He screwed over everyone that had UHC in their portfolio, be it a regular person with it held as part of an index fund as part of their 401k or the investor class actively investing large quantities of money.

There's basically not a single portion of society that this guy wasn't cheating, and often in a way that had a direct influence on their quality of life and even length of life.

 

[raw_oyster_eater]

where is the insurance commission? aren't ins companies supposed to have at least a little oversight?

what keeps them from denying 100% of claims and make everyone go to court.

probably another thread.

 

[brentm]

The topic of murder justification is an interesting one.

One case that comes to mind was Gary Plauche. Plauche murdered Jeffrey Doucet for the molestation of his child.

Graphic warning: NSFW

Gary didn't receive any prison time for this. 5 years probation and 300 hours of community service was about the extent of it.

However, when it comes to the case of justifying murder of a CEO. I just can't get there from here.

Gary Plauche's case I struggle with as a father. In some ways I think it was absolutely justified. Others, I still struggle. Put in that position, would I do the same? I can't say.

 

[chmuse]

The topic of murder justification is an interesting one.

One case that comes to mind was Gary Plauche. Plauche murdered Jeffrey Doucet for the molestation of his child.

Graphic warning: NSFW

Gary didn't receive any prison time for this. 5 years probation and 300 hours of community service was about the extent of it.

However, when it comes to the case of justifying murder of a CEO. I just can't get there from here.

Gary Plauche's case I struggle with as a father. In some ways I think it was absolutely justified. Others, I still struggle. Put in that position, would I do the same? I can't say.

See, I see them as the same, and was thinking of the same case when I wrote my comment.

Is denying medical care to people who paid their premiums moral? He indirectly led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people by virtue of running the company the way he did. His inaction on fixing their faulty algorithm. His cutthroat practices. How much care was denied based on their series of criteria, rather than the expertise of the actual medical providers? If you ever hang out around doctors, they're very, very opinionated on the qualifications of the people they speak to on peer-to-peers. Non doctors, or doctors of the wrong specialty, or doctors with so many med-mal cases against them they can't work in their field anymore, making decisions out of their scope of practice for patients they've never examined.

Is knowingly but indirectly leading to the deaths of that many people somehow less bad than a man who did that to a child? I can't tell you which I think is worse. That's a difficult question.

The CEO, in essence, became a symbol of all of those things. I don't know Luigi's motivations. But I do know that if my nephew, who needed three surgeries in the first month of his life, died because his parents insurance denied care? My brother would be looking for someone to take that out on. I can't say it's right, I'm just saying there is very much the possibility that someone had a human reaction to a deeply unfair situation, of which the CEO became a symbol of UHC, because you can't shoot a company.

I just think it's a lot more nuanced than 'oh my God, a person DIED' and that laughing at someone with his moral caliber isn't somehow immoral if you're not the one who pulled the trigger. None of us did that. As far as I know. But he was an evil man- it's not like his family is coming out on the news crying saying how much he meant to them.

 

[Glp1judd]

Maybe spend less time trolling on the Internet, and put that energy into a side hustle and you'll be in a better financial position someday.

1 in 12 Americans are millionaires. You do the math. Not all of us are broke. And you can't spend yourself rich.

No one asked if you were sad about Brian Thompson. Justifying murder is just wrong. Insane. Bonkers.

While $1million is above most, its hardly wealthy. One million is barely enough to retire, raise a child, or weather an illness in 2025.

As for the 88% of people who don’t have that much saved or the approx 60% with less than 6 months expenses saved - truly fucked.

Edited: that stat seemed highly suspect so I looked it up. It’s inaccurate.

12% of HOUSEHOLDS have a net worth of over a million. So that million is actually spread out among 3.2 persons, or 1.8 adults.

Summary: it’s long past time that Americans rise up and take the real wealth back from the obscenely wealthy - and a million isn’t wealthy.

 

[brentm]

While $1million is above most, its hardly wealthy. One million is barely enough to retire, raise a child, or weather an illness in 2025.

12% of HOUSEHOLDS have a net worth of over a million. So that million is actually spread out among 3.2 persons, or 1.8 adults.

Summary: it’s long past time that Americans rise up and take the real wealth back from the obscenely wealthy - and a million isn’t wealthy.

Perhaps it is more accurate to state that 1 in 8 are millionaires.

I never defined "wealthy" or stated that 1M USD net worth equates to wealthy status. Wealthy is a subjective term. I simply stated that 1 in 12 are millionaires. Which more accurately is 1 in 8.33 if the percentage is 12%. I'm just repeating a stat I heard from what I considered a reliable source.

Regardless of your battle cries to take back this "real wealth" from the obscenely wealthy. The real solution to improve your situation is to become more skilled or work longer hours. A side hustle can turn into a primary source of income if you work hard and smart enough.

It is tiring watching the current generation with a generally poor work ethic think that the world owes them something. The world doesn't owe you a dime.

 

[Vicki]

It's nice for you to be able to afford the $500-1000 a month this medication costs, I'm happy for you. Don't have to rub it in everyone's faces but I digress.

I can't afford it.

I am part of the poors.

Not ashamed of it either.

I'm also not sad that Brian Thompson was killed. Not ashamed of that either.

I find it hilarious that 20 minutes after you wrote "I'm done responding to you" in another thread, you went to find me in this thread.

lol

I can afford it too. I just hate feeling like I'm being scammed.

 

[Vacation4us]

Yes, it’s murder, but remember: just bc we are told they did “bad things” doesn’t mean it’s true. It’s a narrative created by anyone’s government to perpetuate support for their agenda to amass power and wealth. Also, thousands of non-militants are getting murdered by the US and Israeli militaries.

Unfortunately, it has become impossible for anyone to join the military and not contribute to violent oppression. Same with health insurance careers.

Yeah you call Israel the murders here and I am 100% sure who you are. One sick twisted f***.

 

[Glp1judd]

Perhaps it is more accurate to state that 1 in 8 are millionaires.

I never defined "wealthy" or stated that 1M USD net worth equates to wealthy status. Wealthy is a subjective term. I simply stated that 1 in 12 are millionaires. Which more accurately is 1 in 8.33 if the percentage is 12%. I'm just repeating a stat I heard from what I considered a reliable source.

Regardless of your battle cries to take back this "real wealth" from the obscenely wealthy. The real solution to improve your situation is to become more skilled or work longer hours. A side hustle can turn into a primary source of income if you work hard and smart enough.

It is tiring watching the current generation with a generally poor work ethic think that the world owes them something. The world doesn't owe you a dime.

Watching working stiffs identify with oligarchs is the biggest con that’s even been perpetrated.

The barriers to entry for a working person to reach upper middle class have never been higher - and are increasing exponentially.

But sure keep blaming “work ethic” as opposed to greed, grift and monopolization.

We need a Teddy Roosevelt and yet we voted for even more Kleptocracy.

Eat the rich.

 

[ItzJay]

Regardless of your battle cries to take back this "real wealth" from the obscenely wealthy. The real solution to improve your situation is to become more skilled or work longer hours. A side hustle can turn into a primary source of income if you work hard and smart enough.

It is tiring watching the current generation with a generally poor work ethic think that the world owes them something. The world doesn't owe you a dime.

How incredibly out of touch with reality.

It is tiring seeing the older generations constantly making excuses and covering their ears instead of admitting they failed their descendants and actually listening to their struggles.

 

[Vacation4us]

Watching working stiffs identify with oligarchs is the biggest con that’s even been perpetrated.

The barriers to entry for a working person to reach upper middle class have never been higher - and are increasing exponentially.

But sure keep blaming “work ethic” as opposed to greed, grift and monopolization.

We need a Teddy Roosevelt and yet we voted for even more Kleptocracy.

Eat the rich.

You don’t have to be a CEO to be wealthy in America. I am a nurse. Worked my ass off, saved my pennies, paid off my house (worth 1.4 million) and have over a million in my 401k. I even committed the ultimate financial sin and got divorced in my forties.

Whining about your lot in life is not going to help you or garner you sympathy. Work for it, like the rest of us did.

All choices have consequences.

You speak of the rich like they’re personally holding you back. You’re holding yourself back. You have no one to blame but yourself.

 

[Glp1judd]

You don’t have to be a CEO to be wealthy in America. I am a nurse. Worked my ass off, saved my pennies, paid off my house (worth 1.4 million) and have over a million in my 401k. I even committed the ultimate financial sin and got divorced in my forties.

Whining about your lot in life is not going to help you or garner you sympathy. Work for it, like the rest of us did.

All choices have consequences.

You speak of the rich like they’re personally holding you back. You’re holding yourself back. You have no one to blame but yourself.

You’re not rich. Or even wealthy. You’re upper middle class and good for you (so am I)

We are probably the last generation to have access to that.

No?

You know damn well the rich are trying to cut your pay, weaken your benefits and limit your negotiation ability at every turn.

And your (our) kids will have it much worse as consolidation, monopolization, asset hoarding and AI remove even more paths.

That’s not whining, that’s reality.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

Yeah you call Israel the murders here and I am 100% sure who you are. One sick twisted f***.

This branch of the convo is way way way out of bounds, will be thread banning anyone who continues it regardless of which side they are on @Sunflower

 

[hexagonal]

Perhaps it is more accurate to state that 1 in 8 are millionaires.

I never defined "wealthy" or stated that 1M USD net worth equates to wealthy status. Wealthy is a subjective term. I simply stated that 1 in 12 are millionaires. Which more accurately is 1 in 8.33 if the percentage is 12%. I'm just repeating a stat I heard from what I considered a reliable source.

Regardless of your battle cries to take back this "real wealth" from the obscenely wealthy. The real solution to improve your situation is to become more skilled or work longer hours. A side hustle can turn into a primary source of income if you work hard and smart enough.

It is tiring watching the current generation with a generally poor work ethic think that the world owes them something. The world doesn't owe you a dime.

That 12% is households, not people. There are multiple people in the average household. 3.2, on average, as noted in the post you quoted but apparently did not fully read.

 

[hexagonal]

You don’t have to be a CEO to be wealthy in America. I am a nurse. Worked my ass off, saved my pennies, paid off my house (worth 1.4 million) and have over a million in my 401k. I even committed the ultimate financial sin and got divorced in my forties.

Whining about your lot in life is not going to help you or garner you sympathy. Work for it, like the rest of us did.

All choices have consequences.

You speak of the rich like they’re personally holding you back. You’re holding yourself back. You have no one to blame but yourself.

I'm also doing well for myself. Quite well. I also understand that my ability to have done well for myself is dependent on a variety of factors that had absolutely nothing to do with me or my hard work. None of us are a product of the void - if I build a successful company, the people I employ were in large part the product of the public school systems and colleges that receive significant funding and benefit from the government. They get to my office on public roads. The water running to their house is delivered by public civil works. The police officers keeping my business safe are paid out of public funds.

The fact of the matter is no one with a eight or nine+ figure net worth got there without greatly benefiting from society at large, and society at large has not received a share of the wealth that was created that is proportional to it's contribution. Wealth inequality is ever growing and corporatism funnels that wealth and concentrates it at the very top, which they then use that wealth (and in turn power) to further stack the deck to further concentrate it.

I worked hard to get to where I am. But I also recognize that many, many, many people have worked just as hard, or harder, as I have, and not had nearly the success I did. And I'm not going to pretend it's because I'm so much better than them - effectively, it was because I was lucky enough to receive opportunities I could capitalize on. Many people don't get those opportunities, due to no fault of their own.

 

[Vacation4us]

I'm also doing well for myself. Quite well. I also understand that my ability to have done well for myself is dependent on a variety of factors that had absolutely nothing to do with me or my hard work. None of us are a product of the void - if I build a successful company, the people I employ were in large part the product of the public school systems and colleges that receive significant funding and benefit from the government. They get to my office on public roads. The water running to their house is delivered by public civil works. The police officers keeping my business safe are paid out of public funds.

The fact of the matter is no one with a eight or nine+ figure net worth got there without greatly benefiting from society at large, and society at large has not received a share of the wealth that was created that is proportional to it's contribution. Wealth inequality is ever growing and corporatism funnels that wealth and concentrates it at the very top, which they then use that wealth (and in turn power) to further stack the deck to further concentrate it.

I worked hard to get to where I am. But I also recognize that many, many, many people have worked just as hard, or harder, as I have, and not had nearly the success I did. And I'm not going to pretend it's because I'm so much better than them - effectively, it was because I was lucky enough to receive opportunities I could capitalize on. Many people don't get those opportunities, due to no fault of their own.

Never said I was better or worse than anyone. My point was we all don’t need to be CEO’s. The world needs ditch diggers too. You make the best choices you can make for yourself and you don’t blame others.

We are human and we need others to survive. We need lineman to keep the electricity on, we need cops to keep us safe, we need paramedics, nurses, and doctors to help take care of our health. Not all opportunities are equal but keeping your nose clean and working hard goes a long way in America.

Being joyful at murder will get you exactly no where.

 

[raw_oyster_eater]

Being joyful at murder will get you exactly no where.

it's a totally normal response and feeling that normal people have.

i was happy when Ken Lay, Jeffrey Epstein and a bunch of others died in prison. i get happy/amused when some super rich off themselves in experimental aircraft, deep sea diving bells or whatever.

i like it when scumbags meet their demise. it's funny. lighten up.

why should i waste any time on these people when kids are getting killed every day in school

there was a guy Thomas Jefferson who took great joy in the French revolution happening. said something about it being a good and necessary thing.

to characterize anyone having no sympathy for these rich scumbags as some kind of poor white trash... well you might be surprised.

 

[chmuse]

it's a totally normal response and feeling that normal people have.

i was happy when Ken Lay, Jeffrey Epstein and a bunch of others died in prison. i get happy/amused when some super rich off themselves in experimental aircraft, deep sea diving bells or whatever.

i like it when scumbags meet their demise. it's funny. lighten up.

why should i waste any time on these people when kids are getting killed every day in school

Have you heard the 'hey there Luigi' song about how everyone hopes he meets Diddy in jail too?

Sink182 was the best thing to come out of the submarine thing

 

[hexagonal]

it's a totally normal response and feeling that normal people have.

i was happy when Ken Lay, Jeffrey Epstein and a bunch of others died in prison. i get happy/amused when some super rich off themselves in experimental aircraft, deep sea diving bells or whatever.

i like it when scumbags meet their demise. it's funny. lighten up.

why should i waste any time on these people when kids are getting killed every day in school

I did feel bad about the teenager who got dragged along by his dad into the sub implosion

 

[mopo89]

It just screams faux outrage to me. To be upset that other people aren’t upset. Let’s use this same energy and actually be outraged when people who aren’t white, male, and rich are murdered. But it’s crickets when that happens.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

Ok that’s probably enough. The healthcare-related remarks were tangentially related to the subject matter of the forum but at this point it has diverged from even that thin connection.