'Deny,' 'defend,' 'depose' written on shell casings where UnitedHealthcare CEO was killed, official says
www.nbcnews.com
As the manhunt continues, officials say the gunman who killed Brian Thompson, 50, may have traveled to New York City from Atlanta by bus last month.

Summary

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a premeditated attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown before speaking at an investor conference.

The gunman, still at large, fired multiple times, leaving shell casings marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.”

Authorities suggest Thompson was targeted but remain unclear on the motive. His wife confirmed prior threats against him.

Analysts speculate a possible vendetta tied to his company. The case raises questions about executive security, as Thompson lacked personal protection despite known risks.

  • oxjox@lemmy.mlEnglish
    27·
    18 days ago

    How could you possibly say that?

    It’s a matter of economics. You buy a thing. You invest in it. It generates value. You sell it for more than you put into it.

    At no point does this require “exploiting” anyone.

    Your argument just seems like, without any evidence, you think business owners aren’t increasing people’s salaries as the company’s value increases.

    Here’s the story of Sponge Daddy. Small company of about 130 people worth about a billion dollars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrub_Daddy

    Let’s say it costs me a dollar (including payroll) to make a thing and I sell it for two dollars. In the first week of sales, I run out of stock. I now need to reduce demand to keep up with manufacturing so I increase the price to four dollars. I increase production which includes more factories and salaries which increases the costs to two dollars. I now increase the retail price to five dollars. Within a three years, I’ve sold 500 million things. I’ve generated $2.5 billion in revenue. My overhead is $1 billion, profit is $1.5 billion. How am I exploiting anyone? By not choosing to increase people’s salaries? What If my economic plan is to cover costs in case of a pandemic? What if I plan to create more products and need the extra revenue to invest in the new business opportunity? I need to buy more warehouses and employ more people as my business grows.

    I can assure you, you have a fictitious image of what a billionaire is. I certainly don’t know them all, but there aren’t many and I know more than a few.

    • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.mlEnglish
      61·
      18 days ago

      It generates value.

      It’s true! Value just springs forth into this world from the ether. It’s basically alchemy. No other more rational expiation for it.

      What if I plan to create more products and need the extra revenue to invest in the new business opportunity?

      What if I need my peasants to each give me a bit more grain this season because the plague killed half of them? What if I also need to feed my knights so I can conquer new territories? Why should those lousy peasants have a say in any of that?