Richard Bridge: "For what it's worth, in my humble opinion, the vociferousness of a limited number of right-wing, racist, sexist, fundamentalist, gun-loving, neo-liberal and Blairite "contributors" have made this place unpleasant......."

Yes!....An EXACT illustration of what fuels hostile exchanges....look at Richard's post :'right-wing, racist, sexist, fundamentalist, gun-loving, neo-liberal and Blairite "contributors'...when the people he is 'accusing' of those things, are NOT any of the above, and only painted that way, 'politically', and the proceed to be attacked....and very often because the ones attacking, subscribe to a VERY hostile, up-tight, view of a wider picture, that also incorporates common sense.

Richard Bridge:"....... - as similarly applies to "contributors" above the line whose purpose appears to be to deny or destroy the concept of "folk" music and song."

On this, I agree.....and depending on the varied definitions of 'folk'.
Nonetheless, I have repeatedly posted, that the angst in which some posters post, should be a tool, in composing music and writing lyrics... not for the 'subject matter' being discussed particularly, but for the essence of emotions, 'good or bad', that, in turn, can be caught in music...or even a musical phrase, or dialogue of emotions, contained within a single piece.

Methinks some of your tunes maybe be as single dimensional as your world view, through the spectacles of political chicanery!

Think about it for a moment....BEFORE you feel that uncontrollable urge to 'defend' your political identity...as if it were REALLY you, and who you are!!!!!!

PEACE!

GfS