Merriam-Webster has just chosen “polarisation” as its 2024 word of the year. The venerable US dictionary defines this as “division into two sharply distinct opposites in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society. . . become concentrated at opposing extremes.” They chose it with the state of American politics in mind. But the reaction to the gunning down of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, shows how stark, even murderous, the lack of civility and trust has become.
The police have a murder suspect in custody – Luigi Mangione, a handsome, Ivy League-educated, privileged member of an elite, country-club-owning family. The 26-year-old was found with fake ID and a homemade ghost gun at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the golden arches being the one place where all Americans still gather on equal terms. His family would appear to be as prosperous as the murder victim was. Thompson earned over $10 million a year at the helm of America’s biggest health insurer covering 50 million people, including me and my family.
