[WalterBright]

Democracy never made socialism competitive with free markets. Democracy in Seattle led to the government purchase of port-a-potties at $250,000 each and $12,000,000 per mile bike lane striping. All involved were comfortably re-elected.

Norway pumps 20% of its GDP out of the ground.

[jussij]

Firstly I was only pointing out your assertion that the USSR was a good model of socialism is wrong.

As to being 'competitive in free markets', I would suggest that is more of a measure of capitalism than socialism.

Socialism is about equality and a better measure of equality would be something like 'standard of living'.

When you look at which countries lead the world on that measure it should come as no surprise Social Democratic nations dominate:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/standard-...