Sorry Conrad - I find your argument somewhat bizzarre - to say the least.
I have no intention of entering into the 'what is a folk song' argument - neither the time and the place.
By deninition - nothing to do with MacColl or Lloyd - the folk songs we came to when we became involved in the revival, were the songs of the agricultural working people, soldiers, sailors, fishermen, miners, gypsies and tinkers.... that remains the definition for me, for virtually all academics and reseachers, and for those who would describe themselves as 'traditionalists.
If the term 'folk' has been re-defined, then it is entirely up to those who are familiar with that re-definition to tell us what it is so we can, at the very least, take it into consideration - please feel free.
Finis.
As for believing that the working man is the one form of human being who is able to "sing folk song properly" - who on earth has ever suggested that?
Neither MacColl nor Lloyd were what you would describe as 'working men' - - are you seriously suggesting that they went around declaring themselves unable to "sing folk songs"? Please don't be silly.
As for MacColl singing anti- communist songs - why should he have done - he was a communist. Are you insisting that he should sing songs he didn't belive in - isn't that a little 'folk police-ish'?
I really think you do have a problem with communists and socialists -you appear to be finding them under the bed, in the wardrobe, in the flower beds.... wherever you look.
Where is this great left-wing plot you seem to have uncovered - are you claiming that the radio Ballads were part of that plot?
You are obviously 'of the right' - why don't you put a Radio Ballad together and see what you come up with (or is the media a part of this left-wing plot as well)?
Jim Carroll