@TruthSandwich Exactly. USians have long been confused about the various systems and sometimes even conflate systems of government with economic systems.

I saw a good example during Obama's second run for president when the news interviewed a ranting woman who called Obama a nazi and a communist in the same sentence. To her they were just "bad words".

Having a government that looks out for people, provides some safety nets, and prevents megacorporations from eating their customers alive is not socialism. It's just good government.