Exposing Greed at the Top, Struggle at the Bottom, and the Vanishing Middle Class
“It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.” —George Carlin
A robber baron is a pejorative term used to describe powerful American industrialists and financiers in the 19th century who amassed wealth through unethical business practices, monopolization, and exploitation of workers. These individuals often engaged in corrupt political influence and operated with little regulation, leading to significant economic disparities during the Gilded Age. Notable examples include John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, who built vast fortunes while employing aggressive and often ruthless tactics in their industries.
Once upon a time, the American Dream was simple: work hard, earn fair pay, buy a home, raise a family, and retire with dignity. That dream has been mutilated—not by accident, but by design. What we now live under isn’t capitalism. It’s corporate cannibalism disguised as capitalism.
We don’t condemn wealth. We condemn unchecked greed. We don’t condone violence. We understand why people are angry. And it’s long past time we called it what it is: a system that rewards exploitation, silences dissent, and sacrifices the working class at the altar of shareholder profits.
This post will explore the difference between honest capitalism and modern-day robber baronism, break down how CEO pay dwarfs worker wages, and show how even death can’t quiet the rage when injustice is systemic.
Workers support the pyramid. Yet they’re the most expendable, least paid, and the first to be blamed when “profits dip.”
📰 Real-World Example: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (Murdered)
On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was gunned down in Manhattan. The shooter, a disgruntled former client, claimed the company denied coverage, leading to devastating health consequences for his family.
While this was an isolated act of violence—and we do not condone it—what followed was striking:
Instead of public mourning, online outrage erupted.
Why?
Because people saw Thompson as a symbol of corporate greed.
🧾 Thompson’s Compensation
Annual Salary: ~$10.2 million (2023)
Hourly Breakdown (based on 2,080 hours/year):~$4,900/hour
UnitedHealthcare Pay Comparison
Position
Annual Pay
Hourly Rate
CEO (Brian Thompson)
$10.2 million
~$4,900/hour
Senior VP / Execs
$300K–$600K
~$144–$288/hour
Customer Service & Claims Staff
$40K–$50K
~$18–$25/hour
🧮 A worker earning $20/hour would need to work 232 hours (nearly six full weeks) to earn what Thompson made in just one hour.
🔺 UnitedHealthcare’s Pyramid Snapshot
CEO Brian Thompson — $4,900/hour
▲ Execs & VPs — $144–$288/hour
▲ Managers/Admin — $40–$70/hour
▲ Claims & Support Workers — $18–$25/hour
Despite being the ones who speak with suffering patients daily, support staff are often the most underpaid and overworked in the system.
🧠 Why It Matters
🔥 This is bigger than one man.
Thompson’s death ignited rage because it touched a collective nerve:
Millions are denied coverage.
Billions are made in profits.
And workers and patients are left holding the bag.
When CEOs get rich while everyday people are left bankrupt from medical bills or denied life-saving treatments, the system is not flawed—it is functioning exactly as designed.
🛑 DISCLAIMER:
This article does not condone violence in any form. It seeks to highlight economic injustice and foster awareness around extreme wage gaps, health care denial practices, and the consequences of institutionalized greed.
We mourn all loss of life. But we will not remain silent about the brutal systems that strip dignity from workers and humanity from patients in pursuit of profits.
✅ Final Takeaway
When CEOs make more before lunch than their employees make all year, When health care is driven by profit margins, not patient care, And when the working class has to beg for crumbs while corporations thrive— We must question if we’re truly living in a free market or a modern aristocracy.
Honest capitalism rewards innovation, fairness, and hard work. Robber baron capitalism hoards wealth, exploits labor, and devours dreams.
