Why I write
29 August 2024
My writing is intended to analyze and provide solutions to societal problems. Many of these problems are due to individual behavior which must be changed to solve the problem. My advice assumes that people want to solve the problem (not always the case). It’s not about being superior or controlling - it’s about finding a way to improve things.
I have written extensively about how cancer arises and have developed a strategic plan to substantially reduce cancer deaths. Towards that end, I have written The American Code Against Cancer which lists behavioral changes that will reduce new cancer diagnoses and help people live longer. Behavior suggestions are often not taken well. One of my friends said, “What’s the point of living if you can’t eat the foods you like?” This makes some sense but if we want to avoid cancer or heart disease and live longer, science suggests that we should avoid high fat diets, keep our weight down and take other steps that we would rather avoid. That’s just the way it is.
I have sponsored many scholarship programs in Detroit Public Schools based on my belief that (a) good public schools benefit the children and parents (or the equivalent) in their district, (b) parents have the responsibility to try to ensure that their children recognize the value of education and work hard in school and (c) parents must hold their public school boards and school personnel accountable for meeting the educational needs of their children. Many parents don’t do this because they were not raised this way. However, my analysis is that the formula for good school systems requires strong parental involvement. It is not about blaming parents but understanding what works to solve problems.
I am a Jew and Zionist and support a strong Israel, both for the wellbeing of its inhabitants and as a strong ally of the United States. I also support a strong Palestine, because (a) I know many Palestinians based on living my whole life in Southeast Michigan, (b) I regularly interact with Palestinians in my professional capacities, (c) as a moral human being and a physician, I want all people to live meaningful lives to the extent possible, (d) peace in the Middle East will be facilitated when Palestinians live in a nonterrorist country that coexists with Israel. Palestinians could have a prosperous country that rivals Israel or the Gulf States, but not until they reject terrorism, hold their government accountable (instead of blaming Israel and the US for their problems) and focus their talent on building better lives, not destroying Israel. That’s also the way it is. This is not about emotions but about how the world works.
I have spent my life working on difficult problems. My approach is simple - start and keep going. Start with what you can do easily and then work on the difficult parts, breaking them down into something doable, if necessary. It may take a lifetime to achieve modest goals but we should do what we can.
The most difficult aspects of solving problems are:
Getting people to believe that they can make their lives better by changing their behavior. Many people don’t believe this is true but believe their problems are someone else’s fault and won’t get better until other people change.
Getting people to change their behavior. As most of us know, this is very difficult. We cannot get our family members to change their behavior regardless of what we tell them. Often, the only thing we can do is to change OUR behavior to make the situation more palatable to us. For societal problems in which we need people to change their behavior, we can talk to them, get a better understanding of what they are interested in and try to motivate them to move in the right direction to help solve the problem. But that often doesn’t work or takes a long time. I try anyway.
My related essays:
My superpowers, 14 May 2024
Darkness and light, 13 September 2023
How to solve difficult problems, 6 September 2023
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