I think of it as being composed of different social programs in different countries world-wide. Universal health care is "socialism". But instances of it exist complementary with conventional "capitalism" except in that specific health care sector where capitalism isn't optimum, or wanted. And every implementation of universal health care is different, so instances can be examined separately and in side-by-side comparison. Likewise a program of universal public education is "socialism", and the same comments noted above apply.

Social programs can also fail. Again, it is instances that fail, not "socialism" as if every instance were the embodiment of some unvarying monolithic dinosaur of a thing. So we can try again, or decide not to.
Even a despot can introduce socialist programs, the same kind as introduced by a flourishing democracy, so "socialism" isn't an idea constrained by those limits either.

So, when thinking of socialism I think of the various instances of universal public programs designed to maintain a comfortable and enlightened standard of living. The international capitalist free-market system is a different kind of thing entirely. Since it's proven that socialist programs are compatible with a suitably regulated capitalist free-market system, and are compatible with a flourishing democracy, I don't see a foundational problem.

for all my friends, Democrats and repuKKKes alike, to look at. Also sending to repuKKKe friends that AREN'T on Facebook.

But seriously, what happened in the UK during what the French call, The Thirty Glorious Years following WWII, is that Tory Governments were obliged to continue with the welfare-state. So that, for instance, Tory Premier, Harold McMillan spoke of privatizing the utilities and public services as 'selling the family silver'.

Unfortunately, it couldn't last because it was not accompanied by a spiritual regeneration, but rather the opposite - which was doubly tragic as it was the hypocrisy of the confounded Tories who had put Christianity in bad odour in the first place. Nevertheless, Labour rule was leavened in the early years with vestigial evidences of a Christian culture. Now, alas, that little yeast, that pinch of salt, ironically, preserved largely through the schools of the privately-educated, has all but vanished from the Tories as well. Dave and Ozzie the Gang-Master, are unreconstructed Thatcherites/inAyne Randites.

as many as they can. They have Presidential candidates lining up to kiss their feet for campaign $$$! Literally lining up for them, yet barely a peep out of everyone else who claims to love Merika.

It's even worse now, and pretty obvious where this will end up if we continue with the SOS. And now the 1% is trying to buy OUR political system.

Then you constantly hear the GOP wants even bigger tax breaks for the rich. Unbelievable!!! It still amazes me that the GOP is even in the picture anymore. Now, imagine what will happen if one of them controls the White House. They already have the SC, senate and the house. Sure sounds grim for the 99%. Yep - that's you and me, and your family, all of your friends,etc...etc...

WTH is wrong with this country? Its time to get the oligarchs out(which put us here), and in with the new.

Yep, its a good time for a political revolution.

Vote for Bernie Sanders!