Despite their vociferous voices, most Americans continue to praise corporations and their leaders as important forces for innovation, prosperity, and stability.
In the wake of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan, the most popular posts on social media are those expressing support, if not glee, at the brazen assassination. . Indeed, UnitedHealthcare's own bereavement message was brutally mocked online by 77,000 hilarious posts, and SNL faced massive backlash from viewers after running a skit mocking its response to a murder, and in cold blood. The killer's cartridge was engraved with the words “denial, denial.'' Defend him, depose him” has become the rallying cry of many, while the investigation into this cold-blooded murder is hampered by these people. I sympathize with the murderer's anger.
I've been studying CEOs and business leadership for 40 years, and dancing like that on the grave of a murdered executive is one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. . This vitriol and violence against businesses and business leaders is clearly un-American.
While abhorrent, it is sadly unsurprising to see so many influencers mocking and celebrating Mr. Thompson's death, with far-left and far-right populists increasingly uniting to make business They fit a new pattern of attacking the pillars, and both capitalize on populists' common resentment towards the pillars. of American society. This unholy alliance between the far left and the far right seems to believe that companies cannot succeed unless they do something unethical or hurt others. For Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, it's impossible to make money “without stepping over kids sleeping on the streets,” and Republican Sen. Marjorie Taylor Greene blames “corporate communism.” It's similar to violently attacking a company. Greene's Democratic counterpart, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has slammed CEO pay, noting that in 1965 CEOs of major American companies earned 21 times more than the typical employee. He pointed out that it is now 290 times more expensive.
This anti-business vitriol and hostility is deeply misplaced, and historically Americans have generally not begrudged business and the prosperity that its success has brought. As the famous American economist Thorsten Veblen pointed out a century ago, Leisure class theoryruns through entertainment journalist Robin Leach. Lifestyles of the rich and famousAmericans are fascinated by successful people and don't begrudge them success unless they're thugs who cheat to get ahead. But when they succeed through honest effort and innovation, Americans tend to admire them, empathize with them, and want to emulate them.
In fact, the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer survey of 36,000 respondents across 28 countries shows that corporations are the most trusted institutions ever. “My CEO” inspires far more public trust than all other figures in society, including elected officials, members of the media, clergy, and academics. Approximately 77% cite “my employer” as their most trusted source of information. This means that for most Americans outside the margins, business leaders are widely admired and seen as stabilizing forces in society, rather than greedy villains caricatured to harm ordinary people. suggests.
Of course, business isn't perfect. We have long been some of the loudest in condemning cases of genuine corporate misconduct, and we do not hesitate to name and shame individual executives when misconduct occurs.
Similarly, it's understandable why Americans are angry about the opaque complexity of the healthcare ecosystem. Indeed, we have loudly called for reform. Critics say many are angry about long-standing industry practices by health insurance companies to contain costs, such as requiring patients and doctors to seek insurance company permission before medical procedures. On the other hand, they claim that United Healthcare's profits are included. Partly due to the suffering of ordinary Americans, United Healthcare has the worst rating in claim denials, denying 32 percent of all claims, compared to the industry average of 16 percent. He pointed out that it was twice as much.
But at the same time, amidst this massive populist discontent, the U.S. healthcare industry, including health insurance companies, was at the forefront of public health advances around the world, which have since led to a doubling of life expectancy. It is important to recognize that there are Since 1900, there are more vaccines, treatments, and treatments available today than at any other time in human history.
Similarly, it is important to recognize the tremendous profits that American businesses have made and the net positive impact that business has on society. After all, American companies have not only provided Americans with a richer life, they have also exported prosperity around the world in the form of wealth, innovation, ideas, and improved quality of life. Furthermore, our form of American capitalism uniquely allows anyone, regardless of where they were born, to rise to the top of society, giving ordinary people access to goods and services once exclusive to the elite. has been made accessible.
Corporations and business leaders are not perfect, but they do contribute to society as a whole, and the benefits and advancements they bring to human civilization are worth celebrating, not destroying. Even in the midst of such polarization and widespread populist discontent, and whatever the real challenges, corporate executives should not be subject to vigilante justice. , it is clear that what is even more concerning is that such acts of violence are now clearly glorified in certain sections of society. terrible.
The populist anti-business fervor of the far right and far left is sadly rooted in anger over America's populist past, dating back to William Jennings Bryan's attacks on all institutions at the beginning of the last century. Should not be part of our society. The future of the country. We believe that the majority of Americans share the fundamental belief that abuse and violence against business leaders is un-American in a country that celebrates success and seeks to emulate successful people. I am.
