I might not be the best one to reply, but that “we’re a family” shit irritates me.
“If we’re a big family here, then you, and my coworkers, need to accept me as I am. This is who I am, this is how much I smile, and this is how much I socialize. Please, we my family, accept that.”
Folk (thinking specifically John Prine, Todd Snider) is like one of those really fantastic casseroles your mom would make on Friday night, the type you ate until you wanted to burst, and felt safe and loved.
Left wing folk (Phil Ochs, et al) is like a vegan General Tso. You’re sure you’re going to be missing something, it can’t be as good as the original, it has an agenda… But it turns out to be fucking amazing, and way better than the one with chicken