A society becomes sick when it engages in endless “yes, but,” as in, “yes it was wrong Luigi Mangione murdered United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but . . . .”
But what?! There’s no “but” after murder. It’s murder.
“Yes but” is not just a slippery slope. It is rationalizing evil. It doesn’t reflect deep nuance, it reflects a depraved mentality willing to rationalize just about anything. It leads to chaos.
It is sick and telling, and it must stop. Let’s try this: “Yes, it was sick, sad, wrong, cowardly, and evil for Luigi Mangione to kill Brian Thompson . . . period.
William Choslovsky, Sheffield Neighbors
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Democracy, decency are in decline
Please excuse this brief journey through the looking glass. But as the health of our democracy worsens, so apparently is the health of our common decency. These are related to the general level of political disengagement in America. Hold a mirror to my argument and see the current, revived conversation around insurance and health care after the murder of Brian Thompson in New York reflected back. At least for those who care to look.
Those who do not understand the relationship between health care and political representation, between truth and democracy, tend to favor solutions within the grasp of only the most willfully ignorant among us. For some to praise and sympathize with someone (whatever their health issues or GQ-ready looks) for a murderous attack on a law-abiding individual (whatever their faults or perceived lack of scruples) reveals the same overarching attitude that allows some others to elect as president an individual that will make nearly every issue that concerns us — the well-being of our country — even worse.
Both are done from the shallow perspective of punitiveness. And that is a recipe for the destruction of our democracy as well as of our personal health.
I would suggest that looking at the state of things (i.e. health care and insurance; political representation or the lack of it; guns and the likelihood of dying by them; ad infinitum) is much like looking at the state of your own house: if you don’t like what you see, where to put the blame is obvious.
Having said that, I can only imagine the miserable state, especially of reflective surfaces, in much of the country’s homes. It being apparent that so few of us are able to see the connection — the real solutions — between ourselves and our surroundings, is it really any surprise that, societally, we get what we’ve earned through ignorance and disengagement with the work of democracy (as this last election’s voter non-participation numbers can attest)?
Yes, the country needs and voted for change. But as evidenced by such positive reaction to Brian Thompson’s murder, the change that’s coming seems to be reflected only in broader displays of crassness, brought on by a deepening sense of isolation and helplessness (notice I haven’t yet even gone down the rabbit hole of willful consumption and spreading of disinformation).
If not before, perhaps by the 2026 midterms we can begin to collectively change course (for the better this time) to being a more helpful, just society. It may require a number of us to take a long, hard look in a freshly polished mirror to realize just how sick we’ve become. But the consequences of our failure to do so will not be denied, cannot be defended and will accept no delay.
Jim Koppensteiner, Niles
We need Medicare for all
Congratulations to the Sun-Times for the article “Chicagoans Vent Anger Over Health Insurance after New York Slaying of Executive.” Staff reporter Violet Miller presented a very clear picture of why people are angry with our health care system.
But beyond venting anger, the article, and many others like it, doesn’t offer much hope for ending the long nightmare of U.S. health care. We know what the problem is: investor control of our health care financing system. But how can we solve that problem?
Well, a solution is already in Congress and ready to go. It’s called the Medicare for All Act and is House of Representatives Bill 3421. More than 100 Democrats have co-signed it. It’s the best solution because it doesn’t try to restrain the greedy behavior of the U.S. health insurance companies or pass reforms that tinker around the edges of a brutal and corrupt system.
Rather, it gets to the heart of the matter by eliminating the role and power of investor-owned insurance companies altogether. Private for-profit insurance companies, like UnitedHealthcare play no useful role in U.S. health care. They waste our money outrageously, keep us in the dark about coverage and give us poor health outcomes compared to other wealthy countries.
So, let’s get rid of them! Let’s have Medicare for All instead. We’ll save a lot of money, get expanded benefits, achieve better health outcomes and help restore people’s confidence in American society and government.
Bill Bianchi and Cathleen Jensen, Illinois Single Payer Coalition
Don’t count on Trump to fix health care
I find it rather ironic that Americans have erupted into a collective rant about the sad state of health care in America, just a few short weeks after electing the one man who is the least likely to do anything about it.
Sean C. Nettle, Homewood
Blame Congress for health care woes
Don’t blame the insurance and pharmaceutical companies for exorbitant prices. Blame members of Congress who have been taking legal bribes and gifts for years. These corporations have been the biggest contributors to Congress for years. Wake up!
John Maloney, Edgewater
Indigenous should be honored in new flag design
Not one of the new flag designs for Illinois has any reference to our first inhabitants. That is unacceptable. What an insult to our Native community. None should be voted on until this is corrected,
Marjorie Fritz-Birch, Edgewater
Stop ignoring suffering of Gazan children
According to a needs assessment sponsored by the charity War Child Alliance, death feels imminent for 96% of Gaza’s children, the Guardian reported.
Moreover, almost half of the children in Gaza want to die as a result of war-related trauma, 92% of the children in the survey were “not accepting of reality,” 79% suffer from nightmares and 73% exhibit symptoms of aggression.
Yet the U.S. and Israel still oppose a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding an “immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire” in Gaza as well as the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
Here are the results of the vote on Dec. 11: In favor: 158. Against: 9. Abstain: 13.
Where is the public outrage at our government for this vote? Are we unable to see Palestinians as fellow human beings?
Terry Hansen, Milwaukee
Package thieves steal holiday cheer
Last year, more than 120 million packages were stolen in the U.S. Many cities are fighting these porch pirates with decoy packages that contain trackers. Unfortunately, Chicago police are not doing this, so the thieves have little to fear and will continue stealing our packages.
Having packages delivered to access points is a good idea, but for many deliveries, only the shipper can change the address. In addition, many delivery drivers drop off packages on porches, ignoring instructions to ring doorbells or to place the packages in secure places.
Merry Christmas.
Larry E. Nazimek, Logan Square
Hat tip for newspaper delivery
It was 10 degrees outside Thursday and I didn’t expect my Sun-Times to be delivered, but there it was in the lobby of my building, as usual, thanks to my carrier, Joy Sansone. Don’t forget your carrier this Christmas.
Juanita Jarard, Tinley Park
Seeking common ground to fix Chicago’s problems
I came across a news feed of a town hall meeting where Chicago residents expressed frustration over local officials’ spending on migrants. A young woman gave a passionate speech while wearing a T-shirt titled “Chicago Flips Red.” However, not all Chicagoans share that sentiment. Although I understand the frustration, many of our challenges could not have been avoided, even by elected officials.
Chicago became a sanctuary city in 1985 under Mayor Harold Washington. This order became law in 2006 and was reaffirmed during the Trump administration. However, there has never been a clear plan for how to house or provide resources for people who settle in our great city.
Chicago, a large city already grappling with homelessness, debt and a variety of other challenges, faces additional pressures that significantly strain its residents.
Past and present administrations have yet to develop effective strategies to address these issues. Consequently, the overcrowding of homeless women, men, children and the city’s native population has created a troubling situation on our streets.
Chicago has the potential to be a great city, but it requires exemplary leadership to make that happen. Unfortunately, we have not seen an administration capable of bringing this vision to life.
When addressing the various challenges Black individuals face in today’s society, it’s crucial to acknowledge and understand the valid concerns that arise. If you’re feeling a sense of frustration related to migration issues, it’s worth reflecting on the historical context surrounding this topic.
Many Black Americans can trace their lineage to ancestors who were part of the Great Migration, a significant movement between 1916 and 1970. This migration involved millions of Black Americans relocating from the rural south to urban areas in the north and west, motivated by a desire to find better economic opportunities, escape systemic racism and leave behind the harsh realities of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination.
Instead of assigning blame, seeking solutions to our challenges is more productive. Adopting this positive approach opens the door to collaboration and understanding. If we all work together, we may discover common ground that allows us to support one another effectively and create a more constructive environment for everyone involved.
April Jones, Streeterville
Tough times
With all of the vitriol and divisiveness for so many years. I’ve gone through all the stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and now, finally acceptance. Is that really the best thing for me, for our society?
Bradley Rasch, Roselle
Thumbs down to U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace
Putting that ignorant publicity hound, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, on the front of our city newspaper was disgraceful. Please stop caving to these pandering pukes who have infiltrated our government with a mind to corrupt society with right-wing nonsense. I would hate to cancel a free subscription, but I do not want to pad your numbers by even one with that garbage.
John Winters, Huntley
They’re here
Those aren’t drones flying the night skies above New Jersey. Those are the extraterrestrials mapping out the new planet. They can’t fool us.
Mike Zaczek, Orland Park