I think there are a few pretty intelligent people out there who can shed light on political issues through song. I think there are a lot more people who think that having some musical ability makes them qualified to preach to the rest of us. Expressing emotions through music is fine, but a lot of the folks who are into "topical" songwriting don't know enough about the subject matter to instruct the rest of us on what's right. For example, how many of the performers in the "No Nukes" concerts of the late 1970's knew anything at all about nuclear power, or any of the "alternative" energy options? In most cases, when I want to learn about an important and complex political issue, my first instinct is not to ask a singer/songwriter.