I think maybe the scenes in England and America are quite, quite different.

There doesn't seem to be the same emphasis on pre revival material on the American side of the pond. I agree, the Coppers were/are quite conservative in their material, and are certainly not protesting in a direct or strong way in any particular direction. I don't agree that folk music is, by nature, linked with the left(ish) politics. I think it is associated with that group of people now, due to cultural circumstance and the associations they have given the genra making it less appealing for other groups to take it on.

Looking at the scene and cultural setting of the music (which is surely what defines it as 'folk muisc') rather than the material in itself we can see differences over the years which indicates to me, that this liberal link is a phase which could easily pass, rather than a real bond.

The men only venues (ie the pub) for singing sessions in East Anglia in years gone by are hardly a liberal all welcome setting.

Fox hunt dinners run by the hierachy in rural communities, are neither earth and peace loving in structure or reason for meeting.

Etc...

Will we just gain a new body of material from this phase and watch the folk tradition wend its weary way forward into areas and social scenes?