42 Comments

The public reaction to this crime brings to mind the 1977 Indianapolis case of Tony Kiritsis who took a mortgage banker hostage for 63 hours by wiring a shotgun to the mortgage banker’s head.

Against the evidence presented at trial, the jury found Kiritsis NG by Reason of Insanity. In spite of the brutality of the act and due to the economic woes of the time, the jurors apparently empathized heavily with Kiritsis’ anger over the threatened foreclosure on his property.

Expand full comment

That is fascinating. I’m going to have to look at that - thank you for sharing! 💙

Expand full comment

This was by far the best piece I’ve read about the case so far! We in Sweden are extremely conflicted on the issue (and it features heavily on the news here), given our stance on healthcare being obviously funded by the taxpayers, while of course being very anti-violence, not having been involved in a war since 1814. One of our leading economy columnists, wrote “of course it’s never right to use violence, but…”, in his column on the case yesterday. Your perspective broadens the view, so thank you.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Andreas! I'm glad to broaden the view, and certainly appreciate yours. I'm hopeful that more Americans will begin to see the injustices built into our system. Right now, they're mostly blind to it.

It's like that old story of the donkeys carrying heavy packs on their backs; they don't appreciate the weight they carry until it's lifted. It may be the same here...

Expand full comment

I love this analogy, Michele. It is absolutely right. I subscribed to your newsletter only a few weeks ago and I am really really appreciating it so far! I also just made a call to my representatives about Medicare coverage for telehealth. ❤️

Expand full comment

Oh Lisa, this makes my day! Thank you – both for your kind words, and for reaching out to your legislators. It's such a simple thing to do, and incredibly important. 💙

Expand full comment

This. This. This.

Expand full comment

Strange. Reading your headline I was prepared to diverge from a thinking and opinions we often share. So, I read what you wrote and lo and behold, we were different notes but in the same chord forming good harmony.

Good job.

Expand full comment

Wow simply wow. The US is the only wealthy country that does not provide healthcare as a right to citizens. It's far from perfect in Canada where I live, but it is a right. I'm not worried for you though. Donald has concepts and an experienced guy to take over as Health Secretary. Great piece, @michelehornish

Expand full comment

Oh thank you, Alice! 💙 I'm hopeful that more and more will learn just how far behind we are in terms of healthcare. The current trajectory is just unsustainable – as recent events have made clear...

Expand full comment

Lessons to be learned.

Expand full comment

Indeed – hoping they are paying attention. 💙

Expand full comment

Thank you for bringing this together with the Frankenstein metaphor! And for the actions. I'll make my calls

Expand full comment

Oh, Hans – thank you! Great to see you here. The calls are so simple and quick – and very effective en masse. I've already made mine! 💙

Expand full comment

This is spot on. One observation I would note is that his family wealth could have paid for his own private insurance at age 26 after the family coverage ( thanks Obama) would have ended at 25. So I doubt seriously he was acting on his own behalf. He was greatly influenced by propaganda, even with his intelligence, and sought to take matters in his own lethal hands, instead of, perhaps, influencing his own Republican family connections. Violence is never the answer. Violence/murder is simply anarchy.

Expand full comment

All very true. His actions, and the public reaction to them, should be terrifying and motivating forces. People need actual avenues for change and to believe their peaceful protests matter. He clearly did not.

Expand full comment

No one understands the terrible state of our health care system more than providers like myself who try to function in it. The fatal change in health care delivery happened when Medicare reimbursements were greatly downgraded with DTG codes and CPT codes re vamped in 1990’s. Insurance companies followed suit and then began the hideous process of practicing medicine with approvals and denials instead of leaving it to the real providers. It has been a long time coming. Hillary tried to introduce a national health care system. Look what they did to that!

Expand full comment

Nicely put.

Expand full comment

Indeed

Expand full comment

"Blood in the Machine, The Origins of the Rise Against Big Tech". Brian Merchant writes a detailed and interesting history of the economic reasons for the Luddite revolution and the governments heavy repression and how that influenced and informed Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. If you haven't read, you may enjoy and will certainly have a new found respect for the "Luddites".

Expand full comment

Absolutely stunning writing here. Frankenstein is so apt.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Mishtu! 💙 You made my morning. Cheers! ☕️

Expand full comment

Out of balance is a thought. Not Robin Hood. He only robbed. I as much as most others find the heathcare insurance industry to be the worst of scammers. We have means to address this in our post-2026 legislatures and within our 2028 Democratic Platform. We need to work on those. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/democratic-platform-28?r=3m1bs

Expand full comment

Wonderful piece.

Expand full comment

Michele, listening to the online responses to the NY shooting, I fear the “copy cat “ syndrome might occur! Reaction to what a nut does by doing something similar isn’t the answer!

Expand full comment

My wife wants to duck tape my mouth when we travel. Afraid of a violent reaction to something I do or say!

Expand full comment

I agree Anthony - public reaction is telling. Also terrifying.

Expand full comment

Monster killing a monster.

Expand full comment

To me, he is neither Robin Hood or Frankenstein. He is a liberation theologian. A freedom fighter. Our avenger. He had much to lose. At 26 he could have reconnected with his family and paid for whatever post-acute care he needed out-of-pocket. However, he chose to give it all up for a (possible) life of incarceration to send a message. That the message he sends scares you is good, very good. He didn't choose to kill tens of innocents in a random act. He was surgical in his actions and execution. I have a belief that humans are better than we are today. A faith. And he is Fidie Defensor.

The next chapter in this will be a determined effort to characterise him as ill, and lots of people will jump onto that wagon. But he is not ill. The society that allows, no validates, what UHC et al does is ill. He is the mirror in which we see our reflection and our conceit is that we are the fairest of them all; ugly little conceit.

Expand full comment