I like your third and fourth paragraphs and completely agree the Democrats blew this one badly. But I think you fail to understand what King called the language of the unheard.
Thanks, Will, for challenging my thinking. I definitely share Warren's sense of outrage about the U.S. health care system -- what I like to call a "non-system" -- and don't want to suggest she's wrong to use extremely strong language about a non-system that financially destroys millions of Americans while producing some of the worst outcomes in the rich world. But I think her response would have been stronger without the "people can only be pushed so far."
1) She's a national politician in a country with 400 million guns. So an idea that might be appropriate for a professor to raise in a seminar might not be wise for her to say to the entire country.
2) She said this with minimal knowledge about Luigi's personal situation or relationship to the insurer. It now appears that he wasn't even a UHC member (Though, even if he had been, he still shouldn't have responded with violence. He's clearly a smart guy and could have done so much to change the health care crisis with words and ideas -- perhaps some kind of app or bot elevating complaints online?)
That said, I share your outrage about health insurance. I've had a few truly nightmarish experiences myself and have been a strong supporter of Medicare for All for over a decade. I don't want to downplay any of the public anger about health insurance.
I have quoted you here: https://willshetterly.substack.com/p/what-you-say-about-luigi-mangione
I like your third and fourth paragraphs and completely agree the Democrats blew this one badly. But I think you fail to understand what King called the language of the unheard.
Thanks, Will, for challenging my thinking. I definitely share Warren's sense of outrage about the U.S. health care system -- what I like to call a "non-system" -- and don't want to suggest she's wrong to use extremely strong language about a non-system that financially destroys millions of Americans while producing some of the worst outcomes in the rich world. But I think her response would have been stronger without the "people can only be pushed so far."
But isn’t that true? And hasn’t our ruling class forgotten it? I continue to hear that part of her comment as an essential reminder.
I hear you, but:
1) She's a national politician in a country with 400 million guns. So an idea that might be appropriate for a professor to raise in a seminar might not be wise for her to say to the entire country.
2) She said this with minimal knowledge about Luigi's personal situation or relationship to the insurer. It now appears that he wasn't even a UHC member (Though, even if he had been, he still shouldn't have responded with violence. He's clearly a smart guy and could have done so much to change the health care crisis with words and ideas -- perhaps some kind of app or bot elevating complaints online?)
That said, I share your outrage about health insurance. I've had a few truly nightmarish experiences myself and have been a strong supporter of Medicare for All for over a decade. I don't want to downplay any of the public anger about health insurance.