[afiori]

Still the distinction between socialism as a centralized authoritarian country and socialism as mean of social welfare is important. various "socialist" parties in europe usually (IMO) tend to favour a view of society where the individual is assured many essential services and a stronger social safety net. this is the modern equivalent of owning the means of production.

Then and now one focus of socialist policy is to make so that the "Bourgeoisie" cannot ruin the life of those near the bottom of society. In the last many decades the economy, the "workers", the bottom of society all changed a lot.