Healthcare in Crisis:
Luigi's Manigesto

On December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was tragically killed. Luigi Mangione, the suspect, left behind a manifesto that's now in the public eye.

His words cut deep into the flaws of the U.S. healthcare system: unaffordable treatments, denied insurance claims, and lives pushed into ruin by corporate greed.

The Manifesto:

“To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience. The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To Do lists that illuminate the gist of it. My tech is pretty locked down because I work in engineering so probably not much info there. I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy. United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but as our life expectancy? No the reality is, these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it. Obviously the problem is more complex, but I do not have space, and frankly I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument. But many have illuminated the corruption and greed (e.g.: Rosenthal, Moore), decades ago and the problems simply remain. It is not an issue of awareness at this point, but clearly power games at play. Evidently I am the first to face it with such brutal honesty.”

Why does the most expensive healthcare system in the world fail so many? Why do we tolerate this?

The system’s failings aren’t just numbers; they’re personal stories of suffering. Yet, even as Mangione’s words resonate, some say the means he chose overshadow the message. Is there a better way to demand change?

• What would true healthcare reform look like?

• What role should individuals, governments, and corporations play in fixing it?

• Can a for-profit healthcare system ever prioritize health over profits?

• If healthcare is a human right, how should we balance quality and universal access?

• What would you sacrifice to ensure every person has access to care?

History proves that peaceful methods can spark progress. The Stonehenge cornpowder protest made waves globally without harm. Could movements such as reforming healthcare benefit from a similar approach?

If words aren't enough, then what? If death isn't enough, then what? If we can't change the system with nonviolent means, what should we do?

Luigi chose violence, not out of desire but desperation. He believed his livelihood and dignity were under siege.

What should anyone do when their survival feels threatened by an unyielding system? Is desperation justification, or is it the ultimate tragedy of a society that fails its people?

These are questions that demand answers—not just from governments and corporations, but from all of us.