One of the author's points was that if United took no profit, it could only very slightly increase services. The only ethical thing that Thompson could have done is advocated for the dissolution of his and his competitors' firms, which would have had him out of a job quickly.

The actual problem is the system where United exists at all. Health insurance provides exceedingly little value for a very high cost.

One issue now is that being in the way of healthcare is now so large as to have its own gravity. Just healthcare administration (no caregiving or treatment) is now about 2% of GDP itself. Restructuring healthcare would mean tens of thousands out of a job.