I went to that swampy, terrible city again. But this time to talk to some people from Public Health. I thought I might be up against some headwinds, but I realized something very different.
Aaron thank you for your honesty and willingness to walk into this very strange room filled with nerds. I’m glad you saw that we are all fighting for a lot of the same things: prevention, and root cause against very strong forces. Working together could be pretty damn magical
It’s always the case isn’t it? Put the glass portals to hell down and we realize the person on the other side of the table wants a lot of the same things. I was fortunate to be there!
Aaron, this is such a brilliant, honest, and important piece. Thank you for writing it, and thank you for showing up in a room where you didn't know how you'd be welcome. We were all better off for being there together, and just modeling respectful and engaging discussion between folks that may not always agree shows us there is a path forward. Excited to think and work together with you on all this.
It was wonderful to be there. I was so thankful to meet you in person finally. Appreciate your friendship and willingness to have the discussions with such a good nature!
While I’m sure there are many things you and I disagree about, I applaud your willingness to speak with and find common ground.
Far too often, modern society emphasizes our differences rather than our agreements, and I feel that if we were to move on the things most people agree on society would be much better off.
I think I’m realizing that our culture has convinced people that winning an argument is far more important than building relationships, and if there were any singular thing that has destroyed the American cultural experience, it is that change in our political ethos.
Reading this piece gives me hope for the first time in the better part of a decade. Please say it louder for the people in the back! I likewise believe that most of us, as real human beings, agree on more than we disagree. If we could learn to disagree respectfully while working together collaboratively, imagine what kind of a future we could create! What problems we could solve! How many people’s lives would improve! I’m encouraged to see it, and I certainly hope there’s more where this came from!
Thanks! The comments can be discouraging to think how we go from the moment into a better one. So much argument, and so much dismissal by pejorative. I really do want to fix this, and believe it’s necessary as a country to do it well.
"What if they said that public health should be about educating people about debt and money, so that the impoverished and disenfranchised could understand how to escape the tyranny of a devaluing dollar?"
This makes it sound like people are impoverished because they don't understand how to handle money. Poverty in this country is shameful. The minimum wage is not a living wage. It will be difficult to improve public health without first addressing the causes of poverty.
The point isn’t how they handle money, but what the money actually is, which is a tool by the powerful to keep people impoverished. The banks and the governments manipulate it for their benefit using the extraction of it from the working and poor. It’s not a despairing comment. I believe if people understood that our system is based on debt and that the people are the collateral, they would live differently.
Also, I'm sorry I did not say this earlier, but it was in the middle of the night… I appreciate your essay
I'm not sure RFK jR is the best choice for the job, but he certainly shook things up. And personally, I am 100% opposed to food additives. For the most part, I eat all organic food.
Thank you for your courage to attend this event, not knowing what to expect. You always seem to find a way to have hope in the midst of so much darkness, and share that hope so brilliantly with us. I am grateful. I still believe that Mr. Kennedy is doing his best against overwhelming opposition and he will keep fighting for us and for the truth.
I appreciate you reading this. A couple of things I’d like to respectfully say, “you people” isn’t much of a conversation starter. I think I understand your meaning but it’s filled with An undercurrent of anger. We’re probably not going to get very far if we have to start from a point of division and tribalism. I’d like to engage with you and others who have skepticism of my stances, and do so in good faith and in earnest. Nothing in American civilization is as monolithic as media presents it. I’m certain we have far more in common than we’ve been led to believe.
Secondly, I’m not, as I said in the article, anti-vaccine. I’m anti corporate influence in medicine. I firmly believe the intent of any of these agencies is to be a watchdog in Washington. That they are supposed to be the guardians against unchecked greed from industry. I’m against that in medicine, in defense, in tech -I want government to do what it was designed to do, which is play neutral third party in oversight. The evidence is overwhelming in our government that it works the opposite. Industry pays to play, and the people are caught with no trustworthy advocate. The conversation is necessary and I’m happy to engage in that. Somewhere along the way we gave industry a pass - when they should have been scrutinized.
I get what you're saying. Corporate entities care little for citizens health. So, are you an advocate for single payer healthcare? That takes corporate influence out of the picture.
Your choice of allies is the issue. How can you willingly aide people who peddle in misinformation about vaccines and are trying to undo six decades of proven, safe efficacy and claim you really want preventive care to be at the forefront?
Aaron thank you for your honesty and willingness to walk into this very strange room filled with nerds. I’m glad you saw that we are all fighting for a lot of the same things: prevention, and root cause against very strong forces. Working together could be pretty damn magical
It’s always the case isn’t it? Put the glass portals to hell down and we realize the person on the other side of the table wants a lot of the same things. I was fortunate to be there!
Nerds?
Aaron, this is such a brilliant, honest, and important piece. Thank you for writing it, and thank you for showing up in a room where you didn't know how you'd be welcome. We were all better off for being there together, and just modeling respectful and engaging discussion between folks that may not always agree shows us there is a path forward. Excited to think and work together with you on all this.
It was wonderful to be there. I was so thankful to meet you in person finally. Appreciate your friendship and willingness to have the discussions with such a good nature!
Great article, we don’t always agree (RFK being a point of contention) but your values on health care and its reform were well stated.
While I’m sure there are many things you and I disagree about, I applaud your willingness to speak with and find common ground.
Far too often, modern society emphasizes our differences rather than our agreements, and I feel that if we were to move on the things most people agree on society would be much better off.
I think I’m realizing that our culture has convinced people that winning an argument is far more important than building relationships, and if there were any singular thing that has destroyed the American cultural experience, it is that change in our political ethos.
Reading this piece gives me hope for the first time in the better part of a decade. Please say it louder for the people in the back! I likewise believe that most of us, as real human beings, agree on more than we disagree. If we could learn to disagree respectfully while working together collaboratively, imagine what kind of a future we could create! What problems we could solve! How many people’s lives would improve! I’m encouraged to see it, and I certainly hope there’s more where this came from!
thank you Aaron. I've been listening to you on WSITY and I am glad you were brave enough to step into the public health lion's den with an open mind!
Thanks! The comments can be discouraging to think how we go from the moment into a better one. So much argument, and so much dismissal by pejorative. I really do want to fix this, and believe it’s necessary as a country to do it well.
Love this so much!!
Happy Public Health Week to all!
Hey — I came across your writing and really liked how you think.
I’m exploring something similar from a different angle — writing about human behavior through a system design lens (like debugging internal patterns).
Just started publishing on Substack. If you ever get a moment to read, I’d genuinely value your perspective.
Also happy to support your work — feels like there’s an interesting overlap here.
Nice! I’ll take a look. Appreciate the comment.
Keep up the good work brother. Your voice is an important on in those rooms
Wow. Very well stated. There is hope if your way of thinking prevails.
Food for thought❣️
"What if they said that public health should be about educating people about debt and money, so that the impoverished and disenfranchised could understand how to escape the tyranny of a devaluing dollar?"
This makes it sound like people are impoverished because they don't understand how to handle money. Poverty in this country is shameful. The minimum wage is not a living wage. It will be difficult to improve public health without first addressing the causes of poverty.
The point isn’t how they handle money, but what the money actually is, which is a tool by the powerful to keep people impoverished. The banks and the governments manipulate it for their benefit using the extraction of it from the working and poor. It’s not a despairing comment. I believe if people understood that our system is based on debt and that the people are the collateral, they would live differently.
I would dare say that most poor people know this better than the general population.
Probably
Also, I'm sorry I did not say this earlier, but it was in the middle of the night… I appreciate your essay
I'm not sure RFK jR is the best choice for the job, but he certainly shook things up. And personally, I am 100% opposed to food additives. For the most part, I eat all organic food.
But I also 100% support vaccines.
Thank you for your courage to attend this event, not knowing what to expect. You always seem to find a way to have hope in the midst of so much darkness, and share that hope so brilliantly with us. I am grateful. I still believe that Mr. Kennedy is doing his best against overwhelming opposition and he will keep fighting for us and for the truth.
Vaccines are preventative care.
I find it curious that you are so focused on preventive measures for people. It is a noble and worthwhile idea.
Yet, you maha people are trying to destroy the single most effective preventive measure ever developed, vaccines.
Until you people recognize the importance of immunizations, your credibility is severely weakened.
I appreciate you reading this. A couple of things I’d like to respectfully say, “you people” isn’t much of a conversation starter. I think I understand your meaning but it’s filled with An undercurrent of anger. We’re probably not going to get very far if we have to start from a point of division and tribalism. I’d like to engage with you and others who have skepticism of my stances, and do so in good faith and in earnest. Nothing in American civilization is as monolithic as media presents it. I’m certain we have far more in common than we’ve been led to believe.
Secondly, I’m not, as I said in the article, anti-vaccine. I’m anti corporate influence in medicine. I firmly believe the intent of any of these agencies is to be a watchdog in Washington. That they are supposed to be the guardians against unchecked greed from industry. I’m against that in medicine, in defense, in tech -I want government to do what it was designed to do, which is play neutral third party in oversight. The evidence is overwhelming in our government that it works the opposite. Industry pays to play, and the people are caught with no trustworthy advocate. The conversation is necessary and I’m happy to engage in that. Somewhere along the way we gave industry a pass - when they should have been scrutinized.
I get what you're saying. Corporate entities care little for citizens health. So, are you an advocate for single payer healthcare? That takes corporate influence out of the picture.
Your choice of allies is the issue. How can you willingly aide people who peddle in misinformation about vaccines and are trying to undo six decades of proven, safe efficacy and claim you really want preventive care to be at the forefront?