Luigi Mangione. The internet’s latest golden boy, and admittedly, my own. From shooting the CEO of United Healthcare to creating the backdrop of record-breaking TikTok edits, he has singlehandedly revolutionized a cultural shift in the American mind. What pushed him to the fame one can only covet? Between the halls of Penn to the perp walk in New York City, there is a fine line between criminalizing romanticism and romanticizing criminals. But where does America stand in all this, and what does it reveal about the mass sentiment on economic inequality?
While it might seem far-fetched, Alice Thompson’s piece in The Times played a crucial role in instigating the long-brewing disdain for the bourgeoisie. Calling for a distraction from the class duality permeating the West was the second nail in the coffin, and the recent presidential election in the U.S. ensured that the top one percent got ready to lay in their flowerbeds.
The shooting of the United Healthcare CEO transcends the confines of a mere criminal act; it represents the growing desperation within a society riddled with systematic inequities, and the shattering of the false consciousness that reached a boiling point. This act is a lens into the deep fractures within the American social fabric, and to treat it as anything else would be a disservice to the “manifesto” Mr Mangione so heartfully articulated. It is important to dissect what compels individuals to such extremes, to look beyond personal grievances, and to analyze the broader systematic indictment signified.
The 2024 elections, far from confronting the social divide, have intensified the class warfare looming in America. As economic inequality stands at its most extreme, with the CEO of Tesla earning a whopping $14.39 billion per year (a low blow for a man claiming to counter the “deep state” with another business tycoon in government), the average person in the U.S. is left with very few options that do not involve taking arms to salvage their Robin Hood syndrome. Perhaps that would be a first in the benefits of nonexistent gun regulation. This stark reality has only rendered the American Dream unachievable, even for the most staunch nationalists. The rise in collective frustration, symptomatic of the failures of the capitalist system that has long been idealized, reveals a darker truth about what the future could hold for the American public, and consequently, its ruling class.
It is ironic that for a man who claims to be a tech innovator cum systematic savior, Elon Musk has far more to take credit for in Mr Mangione’s actions. From his poor rebranding of Twitter, operating fake accounts to shift online narratives, self-proclaiming himself as the architect of public discourse, and creating a culture of amplified extremism labeled as free speech absolutism, Musk has done more to mobilize the public than any other endorsement. His dismissive attitude towards labor rights, his penchant for mocking progressive movements, and his strategic alignment with controversial political candidates exemplify a broader trend within the ultra-wealthy: a wilful detachment from the realities of the working class. By shaping narratives that glorify wealth while ridiculing collective struggle, Musk has inadvertently fanned the flames of radicalization.
Beyond Musk’s devotion to exacerbating class resentment in American society, social media has been crucial to unify people from all schools of thought, to borrow a phrase from simpler times. Nuanced dialogue has become the new norm, with many people labeling themselves as “commies” and Marxists unapologetically, and much to the elites’ disappointment (and our delight), unironically. Platforms driven by engagement-focused algorithms have seen a surge in radical content, funneling vulnerable individuals toward extremist ideologies that exploit their economic despair and social alienation. This dynamic has only worsened post-election, with conspiracy theories and polarising rhetoric taking center stage in the political arena. Consequently, acts like this shooting become distorted attempts at social critique, labeled as “radical”, the definition for which will always be changing; an optimistic trend for those looking to follow Mr. Mangione’s footsteps.
To address this divide, the public demands more than just empty promises: a dramatic overhaul of the policies governing all aspects of lives, including healthcare, is needed. Politicians can no longer get away with finding loopholes within their own half-terms, hoping the American diaspora will once more trust them with the tax dollars that seem to run short everywhere except when IDF-backed humanitarian disasters need a little push. Universal healthcare, bearable wage rates, and progressive taxation must move beyond abstract ideals. Grassroots movements must be supported, and funded even–to counter the community gaps that lead to such incidents of isolation. Culturally, America must confront its fractures: adapt to the will of the people or look on as the guillotines come for their heads. And they will come.
Will America rise to the challenge of conceding to its not-so-perfect systems or will it continue descending into the delusion of indifference? Tune in to find out.
Photo Credit: X
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