modern songwriters in the folk idiom have a LOT to say about peoples' present situation in all its contexts & it would seem not unreasonable to allow these songs into folk clubs, that is not to exclude Child ballads, love songs or anonymous work songs from the past.

What's the problem here?- songs by Tom Paxton, Leon Rosselson et al were welcome enough in most of the 60s clubs, why not now? Are we really following the current trend towards extremism in music as well as politics?