Recent headlines have been grappling with the startling public reaction to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Articles like Economic Times’ ““Little sympathy: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's death becomes a meme and source of ridicule on social media; here's the reason why”” and USA Today’s “The UnitedHealthcare CEO was killed and many had little sympathy. Why?”?” reflect a grim reality: a widespread disillusionment with the healthcare-for-profit system and its devastating impact on everyday lives.

The alleged shooter, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione's, , has pled not guilty to multiple federal charges, including murder. Legal experts are speculating that the case could face “the highest risk” of jury nullification, as public sentiment appears to sympathize more with the accused than the victim. This reaction highlights a critical truth: while the act of violence is indefensible, the misery caused by the for-profit healthcare industry is rooted not in the actions of any one CEO, but in a system of corporate rule that prioritizes profit over people.

The misery so many people suffer at the source of the Healthcare-for-profit Industry is corporate personhood, not from an errant CEO.

The Root of the Problem: Corporate Constitutional Rights

At the heart of this system is the doctrine of corporate personhood, which grants corporations constitutional rights originally intended for human beings. This, combined with the notion of money equaling free speech, has allowed corporations to hijack our political system, undermining free and fair elections, and turning governance into a mechanism for advancing corporate interests. The result? A healthcare system that treats human lives as commodities.

We recently examined the outsized political influence of the healthcare industry in our piece, “Political Influence of the Healthcare Industry.” We laid out why, despite overwhelming public support for a universal healthcare system, corporate interests continue to block progress. 

Massive corporate profits!

Healthcare as a Commodity, Not a Right

A dizzying array of corporate interests use their political power to maximize their profits by treating healthcare as a commodity rather than a human right.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing and health products corporations, insurance corporations, medical device and supplier corporations, hospital/nursing home corporations, health services/HMO corporations and individual health professionals have been gouging taxpayers and patients for decades.

Could Jury Nullification Be a Tipping Point?

The possibility of jury nullification in this case is a striking example of public outrage reaching a boiling point. When a jury is willing to defy evidence and the law to send a message, it signals something profound: the system itself is so unjust that ordinary people are willing to challenge it in extraordinary ways.

This potential jury action is not just about one man on trial—it’s about a growing refusal to accept a system where corporate greed dictates our lives, health, and well-being. It’s a call for change that we cannot afford to ignore.

Connecting the Dots: Corporate Rule in Healthcare

The tragic killing of Brian Thompson is not just an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a deeper, systemic problem. Corporate power has become so entrenched that the pain and suffering of ordinary people are now seen as collateral damage in the pursuit of ever-growing profits.

This is why Move to Amend exists. We are working to end the domination of corporations in our political system by passing the We the People Amendment (H.J.Res. 54). This amendment would abolish corporate constitutional rights and end the legal fiction that money equals speech. Only by addressing the root causes of corporate rule can we create a healthcare system—and a society—that prioritizes the well-being of people over profits.

At Move to Amend, we don’t take a dime from big corporations or their PACs. Our work is powered entirely by people like you—individuals who believe that healthcare should be a human right, not a privilege for the wealthy. National organizations representing physicians and nurses who are working to make healthcare accessible to ALL have joined us because they know dismantling corporate rule is essential to fixing our healthcare system - you can view the 790 organizational endorsements we have here.

Your donation directly supports our grassroots efforts to pass the We the People Amendment, confront corporate power, and build a system that works for all of us.

Donate Now to End Corporate Rule

Here’s how your contribution makes a difference:

• It helps us organize events to educate and mobilize communities.
• It funds lobbying efforts in Congress free from corporate interference.
• It strengthens our network of healthcare professionals and advocates who amplify the call for change.

We cannot allow tragedies like this—or the desperation they reflect—to become the norm. The growing movement for jury nullification in this case underscores just how far public frustration has gone. But we don’t have to rely on extraordinary courtroom outcomes to fix this system. Together, we can transform our outrage into action—and make the impossible inevitable.