Jean Stimmell, a retired stone mason and psychotherapist, resides in Northwood and shares his thoughts through his blog at jeanstimmell.blogspot.com. In this exploration, he delves into complex issues related to capitalism and the nature of evil.

Uncovering the Hidden Facets of Capitalism and Its Impact

Assassination and the Capitalist System

When this essay began, the hitman responsible for assassinating Brian Thompson was still at large. Thompson was the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, serving over 50 million Americans. As we reach the end, the police have apprehended 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, found with a gun and a document indicating "ill will" towards corporate America. This incident raises many questions about the intersection of crime and the capitalist world.In some ways, Thompson may have seemed like a paragon of virtue in upholding conventional morality. He might have excelled as a community leader, a churchgoer, and a family man. According to his own words, he believed he had done nothing wrong, as he was trained in business school to run a company in a certain way. This highlights the deep-rooted ideology of capitalism that permeates our society.

The Banality of Evil and Eichmann

The concept of "the banality of evil" was coined by Hannah Arendt. She observed that ordinary people like Thompson can commit evil acts by simply following the law and doing their jobs. In her 1963 book, "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil," she described how Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi responsible for transporting millions of Jews to concentration camps, showed no guilt or hatred. Eichmann believed he was just "doing his job." This led Arendt to conclude that evil deeds can be committed without evil intentions, often due to a lack of thoughtfulness.This is a crucial question we all need to consider. Do we sometimes act thoughtlessly in our own lives? In a capitalist culture based on competition, there will always be winners and losers. Thoughtfulness becomes essential in navigating this landscape.

Unregulated Capitalism and Its Consequences

Unregulated capitalism often leads to extreme situations, similar to a Darwinian drama where only the fittest survive. In the economic arena, it is often preached that unregulated capitalism leads to maximum competition and the best prices and selections. However, this has been repeatedly proven false. Larger companies tend to gobble up smaller ones, creating anti-competitive monopolies. These monopolies stifle innovation and lead to higher prices.Over the years since the Gilded Age, we have implemented regulations to soften the edges of capitalism. Programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have provided protection for citizens. But now, with Donald Trump advocating for the freeing of businesses from regulatory constraints and the end of the ACA, we face a new set of challenges.Trump sees health care as a privilege for those who can afford it, rather than a right. This perspective aligns with his vision of unregulated capitalism. Mr. Thompson's actions may have been a result of this ideology, but it also raises questions about the true nature of capitalism and its impact on society.In conclusion, using Hannah Arendt's analogy, Mr. Thompson may have been merely thoughtless. The real evil lies in the brand of unregulated capitalism that Donald Trump dreams of. We must continue to examine these issues and strive for a more balanced and thoughtful approach to capitalism.