I agree, SJW is a pretty useless term. You're right. And I don't know much about string theory funding. I can only postulate. Regarding short term vision, medical research funding has consequences on huge outlays of public resources outside of the short-term vision of research funding you mentioned. Maybe string theory has very close parallels, but for example when it was recommended everyone get interval colonoscopies at certain ages, hundred of millions of dollars of government money suddenly shifted to this purpose yearly for just one procedure (in this case a heavily vetted evidence backed decision). When, in contrast, attention is cast on politically popular issues with questionable research methods and publish-bait articles, it siphons funding away from less hot-topic issues that stagnate or die (for example, the defunding of even the best state psychiatric programs, which are popularly are associated with horror movies and don't get much too love by activists). The impact is immediate and severe outside of the world of researchers, and enormously politicized throughout the nation/media. I'd love to hear the string theory side of this though!