My original point is to make a point that biology or academia in general is very romantic to outsiders - but it's not a very +EV play unless (1) you are already very independently wealth, or (2) you are really really into the subject and know what you're signing up for (the long odds, hours and politics). 99% of the people will take this as a pessimistic view and stop there but 1% will actually pursue option (2).
RE: your political point, I submit to you many institutions are very left-leaning and "Woke-1" was defeated by its emphasis on shaming tactics and identity politics - which ironically brought upon the identity politics of the right and the current "regimen's" backlash on defunding DEI initiatives, which hurts ironically the sciences most due to its outsized reliance from NIH/NSF/DARPA etc. And I welcome actually "Woke-2.0" where DSA is actually focused on kitchen table issues such as grocery and health insurance cost; and anticipate that our political pendulum will swing to the left at the next cycle.
> which ironically brought upon the identity politics of the right
Identity politics was on the right all along. They are not reaction to the left.
Woke 1 correctly identified what right and conaervatives are. And they then lashed to the threat. But, most of what woke 1 said was exactly correct assement of situation and people.
It is just that "center" was determined to pretend far right threat dont exist. And somehow whole conservative organizations dedicated to bullying were less of threat than some students protesting.
> DSA is actually focused on kitchen table issues such as grocery and health insurance cost
Democrats focused on that and lost to identity politics, shaming and hate from right. If DSA wants to win, they must not do the same mistake.
Focusing on those kitchen issues means loosing again. And it means being tepid enablers to far right like centrists and democratic establishement are. It lost.