“A riot is the language of the unheard.” And so, it seems, is the assassination of a health insurance CEO.
I want to believe that Americans can make meaningful change without resorting to violence. But history and current events keep reminding me that, no, it’s the only real driver of change.
History has repeatedly shown us that if we don’t fight for our rights, they will be stripped away from us. And there is only so much people can handle before they snap. And with homelessness, poverty, and the cost of living all on the rise in Utah (and across much of the country), that threshold is getting closer and closer.
When talking, organizing, lobbying, protesting and voting for needed changes doesn’t work, what else is left to do?
I suspect as Trump’s tariffs take hold, the economy deteriorates, and people suffer to degrees they have not suffered before, that things like what happened to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson will only become more common. I’m honestly surprised it’s taken this long.
(It’s worth noting that Utah’s exports represent more or less 3% of state earnings, employment, and GDP — and we import nominally more than we export. Additionally, about 12% of our labor force is made up of immigrants, 11% of us are on Medicaid, and 13% of us are on Medicare. Due to the compounding effects these have, Trump’s policies are going to hurt the majority of Utahns — and it’s probably going to hurt a lot.)
We (the working class) have joked about eating the rich for years now. With each year and each repetition of the phrase, it seems to be becoming less of a joke and more of a mantra. But I truly want to believe that doesn’t have to be the case. And here are two ways I think we can avoid it:
1) Utah workers: Unite in solidarity. The real threats to us are the erosion of workers’ rights, rising pollution, wealth inequality, and lack of affordable housing — not people’s pronouns or relationships, and not exposure to real history, different beliefs, alternative lifestyles, etc. Don’t be distracted by these nonissues that politicians and elites are waving in front of you. Stand with progressives, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and immigrants. They’re fighting for a better quality of life that everyone — even the average white guy — can benefit from. Join their strikes, boycotts, protests and voting efforts to drive meaningful, nonviolent change.
2) Utah executives and politicians: Stop perpetuating and feeding identity politics. Get your heads out of your butts and focus on things Utahns actually need: Affordable housing, accessible health care, clean air and water, higher wages, high-quality robust education. These are real pro-life and pro-family initiatives. The more you lean on identity politics to keep yourselves in power and gloss over your failures to act, the more likely that exact thing will come back to bite you in the end.
I realize these sound like pipe dreams, but I sincerely hope that we will see these things happen — and we can elevate working-class individuals and families without more bloodshed. But, given history, I’m not holding my breath.
Casey Rock, Logan
