Guest, you obviously weren't around the British folk scene in the 60's.
There certainly was a great interest in the research and re-discovery of old songs and the people that still sang them. Of course many of the people involved were/are on the left in politics but politics wasn't the reason for their interest.
Listen to the pop music garbage of the time on both sides of the Atlantic and you will understand partly why "folk music" was so appealing.

Hoot