Socialist countries and regimes are celebrated by socialists throughout the world, until people have to eat their cats to survive. Then it's suddenly not socialism anymore, nor has it ever been. The silence becomes embarrassing among the celebrators, and the only thing you hear or read about from the area afterwards is weak statements that it was not real socialism, and embarrassing theories of sabotage carried out against the regime, that really did not need any help to spend the values stolen from others.
Repeated observations of the same pattern show that no unified understanding of what socialism really is, or should be, exists. It shows that a "true socialism" has never been observed anywhere outside of fantasy based realms. If you discuss long enough with frank socialists you will find two cores. It is argued that freedom is the absence of material distress independent of your own efforts, and that this creative variant of "freedom" is to be carried out by organized practice of the claim "might gives right". This is, amazingly, a complete compilation of the philosophical foundation of socialism.
The phasing-in of command economy through laws, regulations, taxes and nationalization of functioning industries is carried out, along with systematic confiscation of values from those who work, save and invest on their own accord. The result is well-known to all who will learn from history, it leads to much lower production and introduces rationing of goods and services that were previously easily available. Finally, there is mental and physical distress and hunger. This insight is deeply tragic, the consequence of socialism is, in practice, more of exactly what they claim to fight against.
Repeated implementation and support for social experiments based on phantasms that do not work either in theory nor in practice is an evil act. No matter how good the intentions may be. It is a sacrifice of other people's lives, for ideals that are considered to have higher value than life itself. It is alleged that the project is based on kindness, empathy and altruism. Further investigation shows that irrational and short-term selfishness is the real basis. Often supported by envy, pure materialism and a craving for control over others.
Unfortunately, mysticism, deontology and subjective foundations are commonly accepted mental models in most western political environments, whether they are of the red, green, blue, or brown type. The result is societies that is moving further away from the rational, productive and well-functioning voluntary cooperation that each individual can benefit from in order to realize their potential. Away from a society in which every individual is naturally entitled to seek his own kind of happiness, based on his own preferences and abilities, without having to act as a servant for duties imposed by alleged collective needs.
Roald Ribe, Second Chair for Liberalistene / Capitalist Party