The Shot Heard Around the Business World – And the Heroes of American Business
Washingtoner/10277592

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Washingtoner -- By Chris Benguhe, RaeAnne Marsh, and Elaine Pofeldt

The business of America is business. That's why it's especially crucial in this nation that we conduct it with respect for humanity being our top priority.

Many in the business community are trying to make sense of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the tremendous public outcry on social media and elsewhere against large health insurers that headlines about it have sparked. Many of the commenters have shown a disturbing lack of empathy for Thompson and his family, citing the harm they or their own families have faced from big insurers that denied their claims for needed medical care.

We don't know if the shooter was among these angry consumers. At the time of this writing, police have announced the arrest of a person of interest and the discovery of a document they say reveals his "motivation and mindset," but the contents are not known.

More on Washingtoner

• Coming Up on CNBC: Bilha Wachira Champions Financial Protection During Long-Term Care Awareness Month
• Tacoma: Closures Projected to Allow for Arterial Work
• Tacoma: Applicants Sought for the Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Group
• Massive Acquisition Into Defense With STS for Virtuix Holdings; $40 Million Revenue Business Will Accelerate Growth Transforming Market Position
• Orlando Real Estate Broker Bent Danholm Wins 2026 Goody Business Book Award for The Architecture of Demand

What we do know is that everyday people are outraged at the insurance industry and reaching their breaking point as they refuse to express even an ounce of sorrow or mercy for Thompson or his family.

All of this begs the questions: Where are we and how did we get here?

While there is no reasonable justification for this horrible and ghastly act of madness, nor for the callous and insensitive response in a civilized society, there is no doubt this crime has served an irrefutable wake-up call to CEOs and business leaders everywhere that the American people feel victimized by business practices that they see as putting profits above people and morality. They do not feel that enough business leaders are listening.

Our hope is that all leaders will see this as an opportunity to take a close look at how they are serving all their stakeholders — including their employees, their customers and their communities — and make sure they are truly doing all they can to balance serving them with their obligations to shareholders. Clearly, something is out of balance. The only way to find that balance is to have an open dialogue, not just within the walls of the company but with people whose voices may be inconvenient to those who simply want to maximize profits.

More on Washingtoner

• Commercial Sales for U.S.-Made, Preservative-Free Ketamine Amid Long-Runnin Shortage Following FDA Approval by NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc
• Stamp Me Launches Web App Ahead of 15th Anniversary
• The King Returns: Satirical December 2026 Rematch Sees Challenger Delayed by a Christmas Light Installation
• Spokane City Council Passes Chronic Nuisance Properties Ordinance
• City of Spokane and City Council Announce 2027 Legislative Priorities

Read the whole article and see the Center's Top CEOs for 2023-2024 at the link below.

The Shot Heard Around the Business World – And the Heroes of American Business

Check out more articles and insights at www.socapcenter.com