None of it is a surprise for us, we have seen it all before. I once reviewed a book that discussed these tactics going back to the 60s in other fields and then moving to ME. What is different this time is that this level of disability may severely impact labour markets. If employers cannot find employees to work for them then we may see major changes in the political landscape. For me the price is too high, the downside too down, but I do welcome the upside in that post pathogen syndromes will garner more respect, and hence funding.
The open acknowledgement of the politics of disability research is welcome. I have been trying to make similar points over the years, but when I raise them with scientists they retreat into logic and data. Politics is often alien to the scientific mindset. It was to me. I hope that this time more will realize that a major problem in science is political interference.
