this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2024
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While it's very unlikely that someone has a definitive answer, this question popped into my head after the assassination of the UHC CEO and it's been bothering me that I can't shake off this feeling that more is likely to happen (maybe not in higher frequency but potential).

Usually I could provide counter-arguments to myself in a realism/(should I buy apples or oranges comparison) kind-of sense but this one I feel more unsure about.

I wish I had more diverse exp in systems analysis as these kinds of questions that linger in my head really irritates my OCD brain as I just want to know what's the most likely answer.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Aren't we primarily ok with this guy being assassinated because he was the face of a terrible company not because he was CEO in general? If someone from middle management or even low level worker who personally denied this guy′s insurance claim would have been assasinated, would we suddenly feel sorry?

Also remember that people like surgeons or dentists also can be considered ″filthy rich″ by your average Joe standards.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

We wouldn't feel sorry because we wouldn't know it happened, the only reason anyone is talking about this is because the guy was rich.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

There is a gulf between people who are paid well for their valuable labor (even into the millions of dollars) and the capital class who primarily profit on the labor of others.

Rent seeking is a big driver of "eat the rich".

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

"If someone from middle management or even low level worker who personally denied this guy′s insurance claim would have been assasinated, would we suddenly feel sorry?"

Absolutely! Who is making the decisions that lead to a mass loss of life? Not a random worker at the company.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

Nah. That won't happen until the Resource Wars begins in earnest.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

Never underestimate the laziness of a disaffected but mostly not quite yet starving population.

tl;dr: Patience, grasshopper.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

If we are it's the rich's own fault, which is what that phrase actually means.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

The system is extremely flawed but works just well enough for a plurality of people to feel like they are getting something out of it. I think it would need to collapse in such a way as to affect more people if there was a chance it would be replaced

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

We're the same people we were a week ago.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe not eat. Most of them are old and probably way to tough to chew.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Ha, I wish.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

I think billionaires are entering a phase known as FAFO.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Hopefully we will move towards a more equitable society, but Fascists also have a track record of exploiting the sort of instability American society has been faced with during this century so far. If we don't handle this carefully, it could go badly. Which is saying a lot, given the last decade.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Short answer: no.

One CEO getting shot is not going to change much. The American public's attention span is two weeks, if that. Another CEO in the endless line of corporate douchebags will take the spot of the murdered one and so on. All the lousy crap that led to our fucking useless health care system is still in place: CEOs with no heart/conscience, health industry lobbyists, spineless politicians for sale to the highest bidder.

For sure, this was an exceptional event, but it's not going to lead to any lasting change. Disagree with me? Post your prediction for what will change one year from now and let's see what happens. My guess is NOTHING.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

in a year from now, ceo's will probably have a bit more private security and do less walking around in cities at 6 in the morning alone. I agree with you on the rest though

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Don’t eat shit, mulch the rich.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

nope but the middle class that is left is about to take a good fucking

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

I doubt it. There's a good chance that we will see copycat killers. That's a well known phenomenon, but it is not a change in society.

High-profile events can catalyze changes. Violence has been committed. A person died. That creates a sense of urgency. Americans have discovered that there is a broad consensus that something ought to be done about health care. We'll see.

But I do not see any appetite for a societal change. Americans look at individuals, not at systemic factors. The USA has, by far, the highest incarceration rate in the world. It costs the taxpayer a lot of money to feed and house all those people, not to mention that the rest of society misses out on all the productive labor they could do. The US likes to punish individuals for perceived wrong-doing, but it does not look at systemic factors.

US society now wants more bad guy CEOs punished. That's not a change and it will not lead to a change. People aren't even thinking about how the law could be changed to punish these bad guys, or what they personally could do alone or by collective action. They are waiting for heroes.

Americans want V (for Vendetta) to save them while they watch the show. Many think that Elon Musk is Ironman. That's part of the malaise.

People want individuals to take care of things and so individuals need the power to do so. Well, billionaires are people who have been given the power to take care of business (excuse the pun). And if they don't do it right, it's because they are greedy or have some other individual flaw.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

Probably not, but it's nice to see that the assassination of just one executive, and the widespread support and praise the assassin has received, has other parasites terrified. My optimistic side says that maybe this will get the attention of lawmakers. My realistic side foresees private militias funded by megacorporations, but without rockerboy Keanu Reeves leading the resistance against them.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

I'm so hungry...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

There are plenty of alternatives to eat the rich.

UBI does not make the rich any poorer. It just decentralizes power so that all can survive and eliminates crime.

While our electoral politics is divided between either "pro business" or "hamas supporting communist radical left", it could seem reasonable to constrain oligarchy and Israel first rule while still being pro economic growth and prosperity. This requires an "eat the media stooges" who refuse to tell the difference along with a forceful message that the DNC doesn't support.

Understanding that DNC are worthless pig fuckers meant to fundraise and not empower ordinary people is step 1 to progress.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

No.

The killing of the CEO was a one-off event.

There would need to be readily apparent will to revolt, or a slow buildup of tit-for-tat escalating action/reaction between have-not and the rich…. More killings and active attacks, more police trying to crush any protest or anyone rebelling, harsher and harsher punishment for resistance or protest, and a wealthy class protecting themselves as much as possible while telling everyone (most likely through the press and government they own) how bad it would be for everyone were they to be killed or the system disrupted.

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