It is a reminder that in America, the greatest crime is not violence. It is disruption. It is exposing the lie that the lives of the many are expendable for the comfort of the few. And for that, the system will always descend with unparalleled force. Chilling.
The use of the power of the government to criminalize behavior can be fully seen in the government’s treatment of Billie Holiday. When she was arrested on a stage for singing about a lynching ( ‘Strange Fruit”) because the government was angry that she dared to criticize lynchings! The government stalked her, harassed her, and plotted and criminalized her.
And when we did not raise our voices to the way that the Capitol protesters were given light sentences after the Black Panthers and others spent decades in prison, often dying there, victims of framings and punitive justice!! They imprison and kill our revolutionaries!
What this moment brings to the forefront once again is the role of the legal system in maintaining a vicious status quo. Finally, we are better understanding the treachery carried out by the US Supreme Court but it’s the entire legal system!
And Biden uses a pardon to set free a judge who took money to send juveniles to for-profit jails. At least one juvenile later committed suicide. Yet, the headlines are that Biden pardoned 15,000 people, more than ever before. This was important but what about commuting death row prisoners in the federal system? What about commuting Leonard Peltier, who is the longest held political prisoner?!!
It’s not one egregious act or another!! It’s the whole damn system!
And AARP, the public voice relied on by senior citizens, has partnered with United Healthcare which has encouraged the elderly to join United Healthcare. For years, private insurances like United Healthcare have mistreated elderly people who have plans called “Medicare Advantage” which privatized Medicare. Seniors are regularly denied critical medical treatment by private insurers like United Healthcare whose financial statements show have made a windfall from Medicare Advantage. The most troubling part is that the government is aware of this predatory corporate greed but does nothing.
After the disappointing election, we are ready to fight on! We see that our spirit can never be defeated! We see that the government is afraid of our unity and will use individuals to condemn and stifle our voices. If there are no such thing as coincidences, this unfair prosecution of Luigi Mangione is a sign of what is yet to come when we oppose a predatory system. Let’s not get misled in the future. Mangione is not a rock star, he is a human being.
Profoundly written. While I’m not particularly following this case of this young man, it does illustrate how many in society can play the sympathy card to wealth, power and pedigree of his stature. Hidden beneath all the admiration and exterior photographs of him and media coverage many are infatuated by a young man who wouldn’t even look at them for an ideal date. Wealthy elites and their heirs have problems, Belem is he’s and behaviors just like anyone else in America. Sadly, many are involved in lawless accounts and are given a pass to patch it up as though it never happened. Not sure how this case will end, surely it must seem ideal that many in this America isn’t calling for lethal execution as it may appear to cruel and inhumane. It truly is sad that he took this route in life to take someone’s life. It’s the sensationalism that many are placing at the forefront about his accolades and physical appearance that’s clouding judgement on the seriousness of this crime. There maybe those who called for the crime to fit the punishment and those who are calling for mercy and grace to spare. Justice is served different based on who you are in America.
Thank you for doing the Holiday Help drive…we have to keep taking care of each other in this messed up world. Which includes everything you wrote about. Not having access or not being able to afford basic human needs like healthcare is sickening.
It is a reminder that in America, the greatest crime is not violence. It is disruption. It is exposing the lie that the lives of the many are expendable for the comfort of the few. And for that, the system will always descend with unparalleled force. Chilling.
My thoughts exactly.
Every, single word exposes the stench of America’s caste system. Brilliant.
There were 386 murders in New York City in 2023. Were all of those perpetrators charged with terrorism? Were any of them??
Spot on analysis as always!
Well Said! Thank you so much for writing this!
The use of the power of the government to criminalize behavior can be fully seen in the government’s treatment of Billie Holiday. When she was arrested on a stage for singing about a lynching ( ‘Strange Fruit”) because the government was angry that she dared to criticize lynchings! The government stalked her, harassed her, and plotted and criminalized her.
And when we did not raise our voices to the way that the Capitol protesters were given light sentences after the Black Panthers and others spent decades in prison, often dying there, victims of framings and punitive justice!! They imprison and kill our revolutionaries!
What this moment brings to the forefront once again is the role of the legal system in maintaining a vicious status quo. Finally, we are better understanding the treachery carried out by the US Supreme Court but it’s the entire legal system!
And Biden uses a pardon to set free a judge who took money to send juveniles to for-profit jails. At least one juvenile later committed suicide. Yet, the headlines are that Biden pardoned 15,000 people, more than ever before. This was important but what about commuting death row prisoners in the federal system? What about commuting Leonard Peltier, who is the longest held political prisoner?!!
It’s not one egregious act or another!! It’s the whole damn system!
And AARP, the public voice relied on by senior citizens, has partnered with United Healthcare which has encouraged the elderly to join United Healthcare. For years, private insurances like United Healthcare have mistreated elderly people who have plans called “Medicare Advantage” which privatized Medicare. Seniors are regularly denied critical medical treatment by private insurers like United Healthcare whose financial statements show have made a windfall from Medicare Advantage. The most troubling part is that the government is aware of this predatory corporate greed but does nothing.
After the disappointing election, we are ready to fight on! We see that our spirit can never be defeated! We see that the government is afraid of our unity and will use individuals to condemn and stifle our voices. If there are no such thing as coincidences, this unfair prosecution of Luigi Mangione is a sign of what is yet to come when we oppose a predatory system. Let’s not get misled in the future. Mangione is not a rock star, he is a human being.
Profoundly written. While I’m not particularly following this case of this young man, it does illustrate how many in society can play the sympathy card to wealth, power and pedigree of his stature. Hidden beneath all the admiration and exterior photographs of him and media coverage many are infatuated by a young man who wouldn’t even look at them for an ideal date. Wealthy elites and their heirs have problems, Belem is he’s and behaviors just like anyone else in America. Sadly, many are involved in lawless accounts and are given a pass to patch it up as though it never happened. Not sure how this case will end, surely it must seem ideal that many in this America isn’t calling for lethal execution as it may appear to cruel and inhumane. It truly is sad that he took this route in life to take someone’s life. It’s the sensationalism that many are placing at the forefront about his accolades and physical appearance that’s clouding judgement on the seriousness of this crime. There maybe those who called for the crime to fit the punishment and those who are calling for mercy and grace to spare. Justice is served different based on who you are in America.
Amen
Thank you for doing the Holiday Help drive…we have to keep taking care of each other in this messed up world. Which includes everything you wrote about. Not having access or not being able to afford basic human needs like healthcare is sickening.
I appreciate your insightful sociological commentary on the entrenched power of the corporate class in American society.
Absolutely excellent, thank you.
Thank you for this insightful take.
Thanks for writing this.
happy you wrote this, Fred! brilliant as usual 🙏🏾