The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, while a stark reflection of frustration with the American health insurance industry, also highlights a longstanding and contradictory cultural fascination in the United States with street justice and punitive criminal justice.
The elevation of lawbreakers to folk-hero status is not new in American culture.
During the Wild West era, outlaws like Jesse James were venerated in newspapers and dime-store novels. James’s body was even displayed on tour, allowing curious Americans to pose with the infamous figure, who some framed as resisting corrupt railroad companies and banks. Decades later, Bonnie and Clyde similarly entered American folklore, captivating audiences to this day.
