Nina Turner reflects on the outpouring of anger at our for-profit health system in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing — and her concern that without radical change to our political system, political violence will continue to escalate.
Democracy exists to give every citizen a voice; the alternative is a consolidation of power to a handful of ultrawealthy and well-connected people. Healthy democracies, combined with conscious-minded, empathetic citizens, actively prevent oppression and political violence. That is their primary function.
Since the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the subsequent response from the American public, I have done some reflecting on the state of our country. As a humanitarian and Christian, I cannot and will not condone or encourage taking a life. This is reflected in my staunch opposition to the death penalty, even for people convicted with 100 percent certainty of the most heinous offenses. It is why I have spoken up and will continue to speak up for those in Palestine, Congo, Sudan, and anywhere else injustice is happening. These values are also why I have fought tirelessly for many policies, including single-payer health care.
Over the past few days, like many Americans, I have read many stories from working-class Americans about their experiences with our for-profit health care system. This is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue; it is a “do you have the money to afford getting sick or hurt” issue. In other words, it is about class.
Currently, 60 percent of Americans say they are living paycheck to paycheck, which means they cannot afford unexpected expenses and continue to pay their bills. The number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States is medical debt. As a single-payer advocate, I have long made the point that for-profit health care is immoral. Someone who is diabetic and needs insulin to live cannot go without it — it is either pay an outrageous amount for your insulin or die.
A Gallup poll recently showed that 62 percent of Americans believe the federal government is responsible for ensuring health care for Americans. Despite this public opinion, anytime those of us who advocate for single-payer health care speak up, we are called “radical” or “far-left” by the political establishment of both parties and even by some in the media.
The news of Thompson’s killing and the subsequent response from the general public surprised many in the political class and the media. As someone who travels this country and has deep conversations with working-class Americans, I am not surprised. For many Americans, their experience with our for-profit health care system is either themselves or their loved ones going broke because they got sick or hurt. At worst, some have seen their loved ones die as a result of our health care system. The response from the American public is not one of theory; it is one of tangible experience.
Our reality in America is that roughly 68,000 Americans die each year due to lack of health care. The number one cause of bankruptcy in America is medical debt. Yet our elected officials do nothing. Neither major political party supports single-payer health care in their platforms; both parties take millions of dollars from health insurance companies. The inaction of our elected officials is bought.
Our government is supposed to protect its citizens. They are currently working on behalf of insurance companies. When insurance companies make decisions in the boardrooms that increase profit while hurting people, that is an act of violence. It is our government’s responsibility to step in and protect us.
While insurance companies legally bribe our elected officials, it is nearly impossible for Americans to have their voices heard and represented to hold these companies accountable. It is time for our political parties and elected officials to wake up to the danger of the erosion of our democracy. When insurance companies can bankrupt and kill Americans for profit while elected officials condone it, that is the result of the erosion of our democracy.
We must come together, not as Democrats and Republicans, not as liberals and conservatives, but as working-class Americans to demand our elected officials stop taking corporate money. Because if that does not happen, and desperately needed reforms on issues like health care continue to be blocked, I am concerned that political violence will continue to escalate. As President John F. Kennedy once said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
A handful of federal elected officials reject corporate money, but they are far too few to make tangible policy impacts. We need more. In the past few days, I have felt hopeful as I have seen statements calling out this problem from some elected officials who have historically taken corporate money.
Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MN) wrote on Twitter/X, “Americans don’t have health care. We have sick care. And it’s fixable with a little courage from Congress.”
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote on Twitter/X, “The next DNC Chair should absolutely refuse to take corporate PAC money. If we are the party of the working class – and we are – then let’s raise $$ like we mean it.”
The American people deserve a democracy — a political environment where we can take issues to the ballot box and see our opinions reflected in the actions of our representatives. To do that, our elected officials must rid our politics of corporate and dark money.
I want an America free from political violence and vigilante justice. I want an America where our government serves the people, not the ultrawealthy and special interests. That is America’s promise. We can have it, but it will take constant moral pressure from the American people and intestinal fortitude from our elected officials to stand up to their wealthy donors and advocate for the working class.