Mad politician disease Researcher Mika Aaltola of the University of Tampere wrote his doctoral dissertation on the link between mad cow disease and international politics. He talks about two mad cow diseases. When things that originate in nature cause problems, people usually stand dumbfounded for a while. At this point, activities against traditional political and national interests, such as a voluntary export ban on beef, are still possible. Even extreme action can be taken, since it is a natural catastrophe and natural catastrophes have to be prevented.
Science is like a lift between nature and politics.
Politicians usually trust scientific authority, and when the link between mad cow disease and human vCJD was identified, a link was also created between BSE and politics. Aaltola also explains the rapid politicisation of mad cow disease by the fact that even scientists have been perplexed by the disease. Once the BSE epidemic had broken out, it was soon noticed that even scientists were unsure about what precisely should be done under the circumstances. But something had to be done, so politicians got going. From the political point of view, the stunt where the minister sips allegedly poisonous water with a smile on his face can be a very rational way to act, even if it had nothing whatsoever to do with scientific facts.