Call it "market research".........

[socialist_n_TN]

Worker's Power will soon (within the next two or three months) begin a new type of writing for the web site. In addition to topical pieces, we're also going to take one theme and build three or four articles around that theme approaching it from three or four different directions and/or angles. It will be directed towards activists, members of leftist groups, and politically aware individuals. IOW, y'all. Doing several articles from different writers about one subject should allow us to cover a subject in good detail. I'm pretty excited about it.

Now for the "market" research. What type of subject would YOU be interested in reading about in this kind of detail? Maybe because it's a favorite subject? Or a confusing subject? Or maybe a subject that you want to know more about or at least want to know our take on it?

We're not going to do theory, but the themes will be (hopefully) big enough to be of interest, but not so big that we'd need a book about it. IOW, austerity would be too big and general whereas, SYG would be too narrow. Something in the "Goldilocks Zone" of subject matter. Any ideas?

[limpyhobbler]

1. How about

What are some ways to help remove the social stigma from the word socialism? How can socialism be cool again? Especially in the U.S.

Why do politicians call each other socialist like it's an insult. What can socialists do to improve their image?

Or...

What are some features of the U.S. political system that hinder real progress. Are there any changes that could be made to political system that would make it easier to achieve social and economic progress? Particularly with an eye to promoting socialist values.

Or...

Should we end the Cuban embargo, or is Cuba actually better off the less contact they have with American corporations?

...or

What's going on in Latin America? Are socialist values more widely accepted in Latin America than in the U.S.? If so will the Latin American countries ever be able to flex enough muscle to exert pressure back onto the US to accept some of those values, perhaps via regional orgs like the FTAA or OAS? Will Latin America save us? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Or..

Compare and contrast the trade policies of recent US administrations.

or...

What's up with Trotsky and what is his relevance for the modern world?

...or
do a whole thing on China? What's up with China today and wtf can anybody do about it?

...or

Africa. Any prospects for socialism there?
...or
Arab Spring revolts, any hope for socialism or at least democracy there?

....that's all I've got for now, these are some questions your group may have ideas about. Good luck with your writing.

[socialist_n_TN]

2. THANK you for the suggestions..........

I'll bring these to the editoral board and see who salutes. Any of them your particular area of curiousity limp?

As to the international stuff (Middle east, Africa) the international sections usually have a better take on that than we do. We're going to try and stick to subjects that are more American in nature.

[limpyhobbler]

3. not really one in particular

I was just brainstorming and throwing some ideas out there. I'd be interested to know what ideas people in your workers power group have about how to spread interest in socialism to average joes and jolenes out there.