[dragonwriter]

> The core but unspoken idea of socialism is a zero-sum world.

No, it's not.

> Marx's labor theory of value is an attempt to explain how economy works given that premise.

Even if that was true (a debate for another time) the LVT may be somewhat important in Marxism but is not central to socialism (which is much broader than Marxism.)

[duckingtest]

It directly is, otherwise exploitation via voluntary transactions becomes logically impossible.

>is not central to socialism

The whole point is that workers get their 'surplus labor' stolen. The concept doesn't exist without labor theory of value. Socialism without labor theory of value becomes a naked call to plunder without any pretense of justice.