BTTT - I wrote this earlier but lost it when Firefox seized up - or the DRTV site had problems as it was last night. Anyhoo . . .
FQ, the problem is you are hung up on labels and not realities. The Socialism of the 19th Century was a far different beast than socialism today. Back then, it was a socio-cultural political movement to better the lives of people under oppressive, imperialistic and class-constrained European gummints. It was imported here cuz some benighted idiot - probably an academic - thought it would help those "downtrodden" by the man!" - not realizing that no one was downtrodden (passive voice), but had a great opportunity to have, or create for their children, a life well beyond what they could even dream of in the old country. Yes, there was discrimination, but not a rabidly class-driven society like the imperial countries (England, France, Germany, Russia, et al).
So socialism became a cure looking for a disease in this country, and was co-opted by the anarchists and then the Commies. And, in the past 50-60 years, it has been wildly mis-applied. Do you seriously contend that the socialist programs in this country have done anything but improve the lives of people here? The poor are poorer, and the ultra-rich are in power and damn well intend to stay that way. Instead of a class system, we have a welfare system that does the same thing. Do you think this is by accident?
Stop looking at labels used 200 years ago and today, and start looking at the realities. The gummint is a socialist state in all but name at this point, and what is the mood here? Hope is gone, replaced by a nanny gummint more than eager to pat you on the head and tell you "There, there, we'll protect/take care/cure/whatever you".
Socialism was a popular movement, now it is gummint policy. Oh, faux "libertarian", do you see anything the hell wrong here, or is it all "relative"?