Summary

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a premeditated attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown before speaking at an investor conference.

The gunman, still at large, fired multiple times, leaving shell casings marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.”

Authorities suggest Thompson was targeted but remain unclear on the motive. His wife confirmed prior threats against him.

Analysts speculate a possible vendetta tied to his company. The case raises questions about executive security, as Thompson lacked personal protection despite known risks.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    As of about a month ago there had been ~320 murders in NYC this year.

    Yet this single one has captured the media’s attention nationwide and cops seem to be heavily focused on this one.

    Because modern society at pretty much every institutional level sees the wealthy and powerful as not just more important than us, but they dont even see us. Hell, compare this to school shootings that only make local news now.

    Historically, societies like this end in an incredibly brutal fashion. And until the wealthy and powerful really can build terminator style robot armies…

    The masses are always going to win.

    It’s kind of the natural consequences of hyper concentration of a finite and essential resource. People rarely sit around and starve voluntarily, and once the majority are starving, people start acting like a mob.

    We see it day to day over minor stuff where people just refuse to follow societial norms. Everyday we’re shown that rules don’t really matter, and none of the people who matter are held accountable. If someone isn’t physically stopped from doing something, they take that as permission. Hell, that was the defense of most 1/6ers.

    The social contract was invalidated a long time ago, people are just now realizing it. And that’s the only thing that really seperates us from animals.

    Crashing out is gonna be the norm pretty fucking soon, I don’t think we have 4 years or that trump will be able to hold society together.

    There’s a very high chance we’re gonna live in some interesting times.

    • makyo@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I think the biggest thing to emphasize - and you mentioned it but I think it bears repeating over and over - is that when the system fails to enforce justice, people will seek justice themselves. This is the social contract you mentioned. I think we should expect more of this until the system is reformed and people like this do face justice within it.

      • Lightor@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        “When peaceful disobedience doesn’t work the people don’t stop being disobedient, they stop being peaceful.”

    • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      There’s a very high chance we’re gonna live in some interesting times.

      That was a well written post, but DAMN am I sick of living in interesting times!

      I want boring times please for awhile. BORING times.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      That said, very few of those murders were not point blank assassinations in public during the day. That’s sort of a bigger deal.

      Edit: Me not inglesh gud.

    • oxjox@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      Dude. This event is like a page out of Batman. If you don’t think this is news, I can’t imagine what you think is.