Defending the Moral High Ground

We don't need to be them to beat them.

Last week, a gunman murdered the CEO of United Healthcare, Brian Thompson. This dramatic assassination on the streets of New York City has captivated our nation, and the internet acted accordingly, with thousands of videos “celebrating” the CEO's death. A national conversation was sparked, with thousands more sharing stories of how they have been devastated by United Healthcare’s policies: losing homes, retirement savings, and even loved ones. The “celebration” was bipartisan, bringing together MAGA and the left. Morally conflicted songs were written and produced:

@mipsomusicfinished the other verses! what do yall think…ps medicare for all is a good idea and we should have it #unitedhealthcareceo #denydeposedefend #medicareforall #adjustertiktok

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The healthcare industry in this country is an abomination. The CEOs, board members and shareholders of health insurance companies make billions off the suffering of the American people. It is an stain on our society that the largest category on GoFundMe, a crowd sourcing donations site, is the medical category. According to the CEO there are 250,000 medical costs campaigns per year and the site has raised $650 million in medical contributions.

Despite over 90% of the US having some form of health insurance, medical debt remains a major issue. 14 million US adults own more than $1,000 in medical debt. In total $220 billion of medical debt is owed, with the bulk owed by people with $10,000 in debt.

Within that context, Thompson’s murder being such a cathartic moment for our society is understandable and writing off the celebrations as a bunch of crazy internet trolls is a HUGE mistake. Politicians and leaders of society better pay attention, legislation will be required to address this. Society is calling out, demanding change.

And still, I find all of these reactions disturbing, morally unacceptable, and counter-productive. I want to be clear, I’m not here to condemn anyone making these posts. I’m sympathetic to some of their arguments. United Healthcare is a morally deprived business that makes billions off the death of their customers. As CEO, Brian Thompson, made hundreds of millions of dollars. Which means he became ungodly rich off the death of his customers. All of this is true. And none of this justifies his murder, or its celebration.

We don’t need to become them to beat them.

This situation has dramatically highlighted a growing tension in society. How do we fight back against the injustices we are facing?

Since the re-election of Donald Trump there has been a common belief that we need to fight dirty in order to win back power. The argument essentially argues, since one side isn’t playing by the rules and norms, we can’t either. A similar thread exists in the reaction to Brian Thompson’s death. Why should I care about the death of a man who profits off the death and destruction of so many? And to an extent, I agree.

We are in a political climate that does not reward the respect of norms and institutions and so we shouldn’t limit our power and influence adhering to them. There is no reward for going high, when they go low.

It’s an intoxicating approach. Damn the moral high ground! Take the gloves off, class warfare, French Revolution!

This is wrong and dangerous.

For those of us that still dream of a just, merciful, and multi racial democracy in which all people live in dignity, we must be careful to not become the people who stand in opposition to us. There are some lines we should not cross and murder, or the celebration of it, is certainly one of them.

Sympathy for the family of Brian Thompson is not a weakness, it is a strength. The fact that we can respect the humanity of Brian Thompson, while acknowledging that Thompson and United Healthcare’s policies didn’t reciprocate that same respect is vital to our mission.

We will not achieve universal healthcare through violence. We will not defeat the cynicism embedded into our politics by mimicking it. Our mission is to fight the evils plaguing our society while not becoming it ourselves.

We need the moral high ground because our dream IS morally superior. If we lose it, then the lines between us and them start to disappear. And if that happens we run the risk of destroying the society we are fighting for.