Kynoceph,

Like Mick, Frank and others, I am saddened by your despair. I think we all feel that way at times, I know I do, but at the end, if I did not believe in the need and ability to change things then I really don't think there would be any point to human consciousness.

You say that you don't want to sully music with politics, well I'm biased because my interest in folk music is largely due to the political stand for the rights of the common man that runs through all English folk music from "when Adam delved etc" through the industrial revolution to MacColl, Guthrie, Seeger et al and on to the present.

I do not believe that anyone can disassociate themselves from politics, not voting is a vote for the status quo, and you only have to listen to the cries from politicians that the "The Church" (or other group) should "stay out of politics" to realise that they are scared of the potential threat to the power elite a successful attempt to unite popular opinion would represent. Certainly, there is no easy answer, or a guaranteed result, as you say, a boss is a boss is a boss, but lets not underestimate the gains made by the Union movement, the social services provided by Government, and even the changes in corporate behaviour brought about by environmental activists. In all these, art music/song not being the least, played an essential role in forming and supporting public opinion. As Frank says, I don't believe that a good song will cause a monetarist to suddenly recognise the importance of increasing taxation to fund social services, but they can do what any good art does, throw into relief the essence of an ideal uncluttered by "facts" or "logic", and it as often if not always more important to raise public awareness of alternatives than to achieve converts.

My feeling is that although we may eschew proselytising, if we are true to ourselves, what we sing or play will reflect our beliefs and hence our politics, and as Paul Robeson said "The artist must elect to fight for Freedom or for Slavery." There is no neutral ground.

Pete M