So... Political Violence Is Ok Sometimes?

I'm not saying I would've done it, but I understand

Luigi Mangione, the Healthcare Hitman, has become a folk hero because many people suddenly understand that there are some situations where political violence is acceptable. Many of us are happy that someone actually did what so many of us would never do but would love to do—kill a health care exec. We’re cheering an act of political violence probably because (1) we agree with the cause and think it’s just. Also (2) we like the perpetrator of the violence. In this case he’s young, white, male, conventionally attractive, and smart. We love that he gave us symbols and riddles indicating that this attack is about rage at the injustice of healthcare. So fun. Also (3) we have no sympathy for the victim. In this case it’s a grown man who spent his life denying sick people health care that they paid for. Brian Thompson created so much pain in the world it’s amazing that he wasn’t constantly afraid for his life.

Mangione wrote a 4-star review of a Ted Kaczynski book on GoodReads and said “When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive… It’s not terrorism, it’s war and revolution… These companies don’t care about you or your kids or your grandkids. They would have zero qualms about burning down the planet for a buck so why should we have any qualms about burning them down to survive?” He continued, “Violence never solved anything is a statement uttered by cowards and predators.” Also: “Peaceful protest is outright ignored, economic protest isn’t possible in the current system, so how long until we recognize that violence against those who lead us to such destruction is justified as self-defense.”