The assassination in New York of the CEO of a major American insurance firm has unleashed immense anger in American public opinion. This anger is not over. It could foreshadow the social reactions that several of Donald Trump’s policies will provoke.
Trump is a libertarian. In other words, the principle of “the strongest the pocket” suits him perfectly. For him, even cheating is acceptable, if it allows you to make gains.
This is exactly what many business leaders in the medical sector believe.
For example, there are companies that specialize in finding the maximum price the public is willing to pay for a drug. This price has nothing to do with the interplay of supply and demand or with reasonable profit margins.
For example, many companies use the courts as leverage to increase their profits. They calculate the costs of possible legal proceedings and compare them to the costs that would result from optimizing the products they sell.
This type of misconduct exists in other industries as well.
Kill an assassin
But the medical field is unique in that bad medications, bad treatments or bad insurance can lead to death.
In the minds of many Americans, the business owner who was killed in New York was himself a murderer, due to the unfair practices of the insurance company he headed.
Other health insurance company executives suddenly felt a threat weighing against them.
The practices of these companies constitute a fine example of wild capitalism. A concrete example of capitalism close to libertarian ideas.
This type of capitalism aims to enrich a few at the expense of others.
Conversely, in other industrialized countries, which all have public health systems, health costs as a proportion of GDP half as much as in the United States. And their populations are healthier and live longer.
No more anger
The anger of American citizens at the countless, costly and tragic abuses of their health care system is legitimate.
This anger could extend to other areas. Education first. Trump’s plan to further deregulate this sector will have ruthless consequences on its access by the population.
Likewise, his desire to eliminate the Department of the Environment will result in the pillaging of American natural resources without compensation.
Always to enrich a handful of people and without thinking of the collateral damage that tens of millions of Americans will suffer.
Trump and his heartless friends are kidding themselves if they think Americans will readily accept policy measures that increase inequity in the United States.
It is true that Trump made Americans who voted for him believe that he would increase everyone’s wealth. What he advocates risks, on the contrary, lowering it and increasing popular anger.
