"(though plenty of 'us' weren't complaining during the boom years)."
Don't know how you fared during the 'boom' years Michael. I worked (as an electrician) and earned a modest living.
All that has changed is that, because of the state of the economy, brought about, as I said, by greedy financiers and incompetent and corrupt politicians, my standard of living is quite likely to plummet. Recently my local hospital closed its A&E department, so I now have to survive a 60 mile ambulance ride if I (or any belonging to me) have an accident, any small savings I have is under constant threat because of the possibility of the bank going under, my pension for a lifetimes worth is diminishing in value daily....... 'Us' bear the brunt of a recession and gain little from a boom. On the other hand, life appears to go on as usual for 'them' (who got us where we are at present).
I live in the west of Ireland, where it is virtually imossible to find a family that hasn't been affected down the years by emigration. Now, it appears, the youth of this country (at least, the children of 'us') will be taking to the boats again in order to earn a living.
Folk entertainer:
The music industry capitalised on folk music, which had been put on the map by pioneers like Guthrie, The Weavers, Alan Lomax, Ewan MacColl, Bert Lloyd..... left wingers all.
The industry exploited it when it was profitable and discarded it when it ceased to be so. You are, of course right, they were not driven by politics, but by profit, and the music was no more than a commodity to be sold on the market.
Jim Carroll