To join or not, that is the question. On a very basic level I decline to contribute voluntarily to purposes/organizations I don’t have at least a basic agreement with. At the same time there was this italian fellow Gramsci and his “long march”.
Staying out makes it easier for the fanatical deluded to take over. Staying in gives you a “theoretical” chance of influence, but only if you are willing, at least publicly, to drink the kool-aid. For too many organizations it is not worth it. Instead concentrate on areas where you can modify behavior.
So I dropped out of the AMA, and stopped subscribing to NEJM, Lancet etc. But I have stayed i my local medical society and the American Academy of Neurology. The latter in part due my mentor being one of the founders.
If sufficient people are interested it should be possible to retake the “castle”, although resistance of a “Darthmouth” type should be expected. The entrenched will not give up without a fight and they are not using Marquess of Queensbury rules. For the long term health of our society it will be necessary though – the earlier the better.
peace
Hejde
