The Indifference of Good Men: A Legacy of Greed

We must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.

Last week, I wrote about the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and wondered if this would inspire more disgruntled Americans to take similar actions. Situations like this are why unions exist in the first place. For the most part, the wealthy elite in this country know that at any moment their workers could become enraged and act out violently. To prevent this, they historically agreed to collective bargaining, ensuring some level of harmony. For a time, it seemed everyone lived happily ever after.

Except, somewhere along the line, the wealthiest members of our society stopped fearing the general public. Part of this change can be attributed to their ability to buy off politicians and have laws written massively in their favor. Another factor was billionaires’ ability to manipulate the media, spinning narratives that portrayed themselves as benevolent job creators. But perhaps the most significant reason for their lack of fear is the realization that law enforcement overwhelmingly works to protect their interests.

Consider this: In New York City in 2023, police solved fewer than 40% of murders, achieving a clearance rate of just 36.36%. For rape victims, the clearance rate was slightly better but still appallingly low at 36.41%. How many of those murder and rape victims received the full attention of the NYPD the way Brian Thompson did? The answer is likely none.

The media also played its part, chastising Americans for not being outraged enough by Thompson’s death. Instead of mourning his loss, some celebrated—a reaction the media deemed unacceptable. Anchors solemnly reminded viewers to think about the wife and children Thompson left behind, yet they ignored the families left devastated when their loved ones died after being denied healthcare coverage by Thompson’s company. Adding insult to injury, the new UnitedHealthcare CEO vowed to continue Thompson’s legacy. A legacy of denying people the healthcare they need to maximize shareholder profits isn’t one that, in my opinion, deserves continuation.

We live in a world where, even when one of the elite falls, the machine moves so quickly that most people barely notice. I’ve spoken at length about what happens when there are no consequences for the wealthy. Eventually, people take matters into their own hands. I do not condone such actions, but I fully understand them.

Years ago, I was introduced to the film The Boondock Saints. The film, though low-budget, left a lasting impression. Its sequel never quite lived up to the original. For those unfamiliar, the story follows two brothers who, after attending Mass and hearing the Monsignor’s sermon—“There is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men”—decide to become vigilante angels of death, sending sinners to meet their maker. In the movie, most of the brothers’ targets are mobsters, a classic depiction of villains from that era.

But let’s consider a thought experiment: If the brothers were operating in today’s world, would their targets be corrupt CEOs instead of mobsters? Would the public’s reaction to the “Saints” remain as positive? At the end of the movie, there’s a montage showing Boston citizens praising the Saints for their actions. Given the reaction to the killing of one crooked CEO, would a vigilante targeting multiple corrupt executives garner even more public approval?

If the answer is yes, then why do we allow these individuals to wield such immense power over our daily lives? Why do we tolerate their control when so many would cheer their downfall? It’s worth reflecting on how the indifference of good people has allowed certain individuals to amass untold wealth and influence—and what that indifference means for our society moving forward.