Alistair, question about the passive voice: 'unless the system is changed'. Changed by who? And changed how? Because if the answers are 'by us' and 'by fighting it', then I think Chet and Mick's work (and perhaps even your head-shaking) are steps in that direction.

Susan, yaay, anarchy in Vermont! Yes, it was dumb of me to forget Goldman...you know she was actually here in Barre, when the granite carvers and the quarry workers were striking? But music, music...you say your music is inseperable from your politics, and I would say thats pretty generally true insofar as your political outlook shapes your experience, and you have to sing from experience. Does this automatically 'politicize' the music of oppressed people, no matter what they're singing about?