Here's a letter from today's Guardian (and a very good letter mostly) thatdemonstrates the way in which people who are strong exponents of the people making our own music seem to feel a need to slag off Morris Dancing and such, almost as a protective gesture, in case they get sneered at themselves:

No idea what my wife has sent to you, but can I take the opportunity to add my own favourite Half Man Half Biscuit lyric: When I had my loft converted back into a loft, the neighbours came around and scoffed and called me retro.

I've organised about five gigs for them, but now New Labour has managed to come up with yet another piece of legislation which even the most rightwing Tory would be proud of. They want all live music to be subject to a licence - a direct attack on dissident grassroots culture and confirmation that in the ideal New Labour world everyone is a TV-gawking passive consumer vegetable devoid of an original or independent thought.

Widescreen TV transmissions in pubs to hundreds won't be affected though, 'cos that would upset New Labour's friend, Rupert. Unbelievable! I can only make an appropriate response:

OFF LICENCE!
(for Kim Howells)
Rupert Murdoch, that's your "culture"
Tellytubby corporate state
Widescreen god won't need a licence -
He got you elected, mate!
Thousand Morris dancers whining
With petitions so polite
Some of us aren't whingeing folkies
And you've got yourself a fight!
Sky TV New Labour Tory
Mainstream dullard business bores
So come on, arrest Attila -
Cos I'll flout your stupid laws!
Poems and songs don't need a licence.
Never have and never will.
I'm here in your face, Kim Howells -
Tearing up your licence bill!

Attila the Stockbroker
Southwick, W Sussex

Squabbling among ourselves is silly. The point is, all musicmaking that people do for themselves without being part of the industry, is under attack. If we pick off each other it just makes it easier to ignore is, and in fact to repress us.