The thread is about what's wrong with England, not idotic amdram (though this may well have been a feature of life in boring suburban Pinner which madlizziecornish insists is "not in London" despite being on the tube.

The OP cited a pile of xenophobic, inaccurate drivel. MLC dragged up (as usual) some unintentionally borderline racist lyrics from her once-fave pub-rock band. All stuff that illustrates supremely what is wrong with an unthinking, prejudiced, Daily Mail-driven populace.

The way back for England isn't to gaze dreamily at chocolate box lids and yearn for what never was and rant garbage about "in my day". England has changed irrevocably, in many ways for the better. There is room enough to recall and emulate the massive struggles of the past for progressive land reform and emancipation. And for education (yes x 3). All this can be, and is, reflected in the range of music out there from musicians such as the aforementioned Billy Bragg and look! A new English Acoustic Collective newsletter has just arrived in my inbox . . .