The shocking arrest of Luigi Mangione, a privileged Ivy League graduate, for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked outrage and reflection. Mangione’s alleged crime, coupled with a handwritten manifesto railing against corporate greed in healthcare, has shone a harsh light on a global issue: the rising influence of profit-driven practices in systems meant to prioritize people.
While Mangione’s actions are indefensible, the frustration expressed in his manifesto taps into widespread discontent. The healthcare systems in both the United States and Europe are under immense strain, grappling with workforce shortages, rising costs, and increasing privatization—all exacerbated by corporate profit motives.
Healthcare in the United States: A System Designed for Profit
In the U.S., healthcare has long been a business first and a public service second. UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, epitomizes this dynamic, reporting revenues of over $324 billion in 2023. Yet, many Americans face insurmountable costs for basic medical care, opaque billing practices, and denied claims.
Mangione’s manifesto reportedly condemned this disparity, accusing companies like UnitedHealthcare of exploiting patients for profit. He highlighted how corporate revenues soar while life expectancy in America stagnates—a sobering indictment of a system that prioritizes shareholders over human lives.
This profit-first model isn’t just failing patients—it’s breeding resentment. Public frustration with the healthcare system has reached a boiling point, with many questioning whether it can ever serve its people equitably while remaining tethered to corporate interests.
In Europe, healthcare systems are largely public and universal, but they are not immune to the pressures of privatization and economic strain
Reports from the OECD and WHO reveal that European health systems are grappling with aging populations, workforce shortages, and underfunding, leading to a gradual creep of privatization.
Privatization in the UK: The National Health Service (NHS), once a hallmark of universal healthcare, has increasingly outsourced services to private contractors. Between 2009 and 2016, spending on private-sector services nearly doubled, fueling concerns about a two-tier healthcare system where access depends on wealth.
These challenges, while different from those in the U.S., reflect a similar pattern: the prioritization of profit over public well-being, even in systems designed to be equitable.
A Tale of Two Systems
The contrast between the U.S. and Europe offers key insights into the global healthcare crisis:
The U.S.: A predominantly private, profit-driven model that leaves millions underinsured and financially burdened.
Europe: Public systems struggling to maintain universal access amid privatization pressures and funding gaps.
Both models face public dissatisfaction. In the U.S., the outrage centers on unaffordable care. In Europe, the fear is that privatization will erode the equity that has long defined its public systems.
The Role of Corporate Greed
Healthcare’s challenges are rooted in a broader issue: corporate greed. Whether it’s insurers denying claims, pharmaceutical companies inflating drug prices, or private providers prioritizing wealthy clients, the pursuit of profit undermines the ethical foundation of healthcare.
Mangione’s alleged manifesto, though extreme, echoes a sentiment shared by millions: corporations have become “parasites,” exploiting essential systems for financial gain. This frustration isn’t just theoretical—it’s deeply personal for those who can’t afford life-saving treatments or face endless bureaucracy to access basic care.
Lessons from Mangione’s Case
Mangione’s story is more than a headline; it’s a cautionary tale about the consequences of systemic inequities. His privileged background challenges stereotypes about radicalization, showing how frustration with corporate exploitation transcends class and education.
It also underscores the urgent need to address public grievances before they manifest in destructive ways. While his actions cannot be justified, the conditions that foster such despair demand our attention.
Healthcare systems on both sides of the Atlantic are at a crossroads
To restore trust and equity, governments and corporations must act decisively:
Hold Corporations Accountable: Healthcare providers must prioritize ethical practices and transparency over profits.
Reinvest in Public Systems: European nations must resist privatization and strengthen their public healthcare infrastructures.
Regulate Drug Pricing: Both the U.S. and Europe need stricter controls to ensure life-saving medications are affordable and accessible.
The strength of a nation is measured not by its wealth, but by its ability to care for its people. When we allow profit to eclipse compassion, we betray our shared humanity.
Health A Global Reckoning
The arrest of Luigi Mangione has reignited debates about corporate greed and its corrosive impact on healthcare. In the U.S., patients face an exploitative system where care is a privilege, not a right. In Europe, public systems risk succumbing to privatization, jeopardizing the equity they were designed to uphold.
The question isn’t just about what went wrong in this tragic case—it’s about what we’re willing to do to fix the systems that contributed to it. If we fail to act, the cracks in our healthcare systems will only deepen, leaving more people disillusioned, disenfranchised, and desperate.
Mangione’s manifesto labeled corporations as “parasites.” The real challenge lies in proving him wrong by building systems that prioritize people over profits—before it’s too late.
Imagine this: A woman in her late 60s, a retired teacher, is scrolling through her favourite news app. She sees ads for anti-ageing creams, cruise holidays, and mobility aids. Each one screams a single, monotonous message: “You’re old, and this is all you need.” She closes the app, feeling unseen for who she truly is—a vibrant, tech-savvy individual with a lifetime of experiences, passions, and untapped potential.
Or think of a young man with a disability, bombarded by charity ads that portray people like him as objects of pity rather than participants in everyday life. He uses cutting-edge tech, travels the world, and runs his own business, but in the advertising world, he’s invisible unless he’s a symbol of “inspiration.”
These are just two of the millions of consumers who fall outside advertising’s narrow spotlight. It’s not just an oversight—it’s a cultural blind spot with massive consequences.
Who Are the Invisible Consumers?
Advertising tells us who matters. But who does it leave out?
1. Older Adults: The Forgotten Spenders
Older adults hold more wealth than any other demographic, yet their ad representation is abysmal. When they do appear, they’re either portrayed as frail and dependent or as unrealistically youthful, dancing through retirement as if ageing were a myth.
But older adults today are running marathons, launching startups, and embracing technology at record rates. Why does advertising refuse to reflect this reality? Ignoring them perpetuates ageism and sends a clear message: “You’re not relevant unless you look or act young.”
2. People with Disabilities: Stereotyped or Silent
Over a billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. They represent a diverse, dynamic consumer base, yet they’re either absent from ads or pigeonholed into narrow roles—the brave hero overcoming adversity or the charity case seeking pity.
Brands often miss the mark entirely, failing to normalize disability as an everyday part of life. Imagine seeing an ad where a person with a disability is simply buying groceries or going to a concert, without their disability being the focus. That’s the kind of representation that’s still shockingly rare.
3. Low-Income Communities: Erased or Exploited
Advertising largely ignores low-income consumers, except when pushing payday loans, fast food, or discount retailers. The underlying narrative? These individuals aren’t aspirational enough for mainstream brands.
This not only alienates a significant portion of the population but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Low-income consumers are as diverse and aspirational as anyone else—they want access to quality products and services that respect their dignity, not exploit their circumstances.
The Cost of Ignoring Diversity
The exclusion of these groups isn’t just morally wrong—it’s economically foolish. Together, these “invisible consumers” represent billions in untapped purchasing power. By ignoring them, brands leave money on the table and risk alienating a significant portion of their potential audience.
But the real cost is cultural. Advertising doesn’t just reflect society; it shapes it. When entire groups are erased or misrepresented, it reinforces harmful biases and perpetuates inequality. Ageism, ableism, and classism become ingrained in the cultural fabric, shaping how we view ourselves and others.
Real-World Failures and Successes
Failure: A notable example is the 2018 ad campaign titled “Dear Young People, Don’t Vote,” sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Acronym. This advertisement depicted older individuals as selfish, uncaring, and out-of-touch, suggesting they were responsible for ruining the future due to their lack of concern for younger generations. While the campaign aimed to encourage young people to vote, its portrayal of older adults was divisive and derogatory, reinforcing negative stereotypes about aging.
Success: On the flip side, Tommy Hilfiger’s adaptive clothing line is a masterclass in inclusion. Designed for people with disabilities, it’s marketed without fanfare, simply showing real people living their lives. It’s a powerful reminder that inclusivity doesn’t need to be performative—it can be seamless and authentic.
For older adults, this means feeling pressured to fight aging rather than embracing it. For people with disabilities, it means being seen as exceptional only when they fit an “inspirational” mold. For low-income communities, it means internalizing the idea that they don’t deserve quality or aspirational products.
Breaking the Cycle: What Needs to Change
Authentic Representation Ads must reflect the full spectrum of human experience. Older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals need to be shown not as outliers or exceptions but as everyday consumers with diverse interests and lifestyles.
Inclusive Storytelling Move beyond tokenism. Show older adults as tech innovators, people with disabilities as fashion-forward consumers, and low-income individuals as empowered decision-makers. Normalize diversity without making it the story.
Community Collaboration Work directly with underrepresented groups to ensure authenticity. Co-create campaigns that resonate with their lived experiences rather than relying on outdated stereotypes.
Data-Driven Inclusion Brands need to stop underestimating these audiences. Leverage data to understand their behaviors and preferences, recognizing them as valuable consumers, not fringe markets.
Accountability and Metrics Just as diversity is measured in workplaces, it should be tracked in advertising. Brands should set goals for inclusive representation and hold themselves accountable for meeting them.
Imagine a world where advertising reflects all of us
A world where older adults see themselves as vibrant contributors, people with disabilities are shown in every aspect of life, and low-income communities are respected and celebrated. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a necessity in the current world we all living
The invisible consumer deserves to be seen. They deserve to be valued. And it’s time for the advertising industry to step up.
In this rare appearance as a documentary subject, George Saunders reveals the pitfalls of bad storytelling and explains the openness and generosity required to breath life into great characters. The film offers a direct look at the process by which he is able to take a single mundane sentence and infuse it with the distinct blend of depth, compassion, and outright magic that are the trademarks of his most powerful work.
Passion Pit– “Carried Away” (Tiësto Remix), directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada. I don’t know about Tiësto’s remix I prefer this song without it… but the video is phenomenal!! Well done Carlos
