What is your definition of socialism?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialism
"any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods"
Ah you see that definition is describing pure socialism, ie communism. I agree that pure communism doesn't work, we study that at school and read Animal Farm! However, if you read further down the page you see that when most people say socialism they are referring to democratic socialism, eg Denmark & many other European countries.
Were you referring to the dictionary definition as quoted? Or saying that democratic socialism fails? Because if the latter, I couldn't ever agree.
From my studies of economic development, I believe inequality does not motivate upward movement but rather creates divisions and motivates people to crime and/or a distrust or fear of 'the others'. Reducing inequality is the goal of economic development.
Socialism defined above.
Communism, per Marx: "Abolition of private property."
Democratic socialism: political democracy and social ownership of the means of production
-Agree pure socialism = communism, though the meanings of the words and history of the movements has been fluid.
Capitalism: economic system + ideology based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit.
Totalitarianism/fascism: individual subservience to the State, often incorporating other bad stuff like dictators, racism, etc.
The 'Democratic socialist' nations are capitalist at their core with an infection of totalitarianism/fascism. WHAT you say?? well, look at the definitions. They are largely capitalist: private ownership of most sectors of industry. You can purchase shares in most companies and they are run for-profit. Some sectors have
state choice vs.
individual choice (the totalitarianism/fascism aspect); education, healthcare are the typical examples. Actual ownership of the providers is often a muddled mess. Though, it is quite clear a Swedish billionaire will have access to better HC and education than the proletariat....
You
say you "believe inequality does not motivate upward movement " but I betcha you
act the opposite, most of us do. Go to school, work hard, get better jobs, etc. Why? to improve your situation! To 'move up'! The
only motivation for upwards movement is inequality, reaching for the next step up; almost by definition. If there was nothing to move up to, there is no motivation. Can't climb a ladder made of air.
Inequality is what provides motivation and is exactly why socialism fails every.single.time.
What is the definition of failure here? If you look at all the countries currently considered the best, most of those are considered more socialist than the rest of the world. However no one is 100% socialist or 100% capitalist.
The 'most' socialist: N Korea, Cuba, Venezuela.... China used to be on the list till they realized it was a failure, and introduced capitalist 'reforms'. Russia/USSR collapsed as well of course. The Maduro Diet is a real thing, right now...