@ Oberyn
I made lots of good points in my posts here in this thread. I don't want to repeat them all. You should ask yourself who of us is more brain-washed though. I've always lived in a society (and I suppose, so have you) where capitalism is glorified and socialism is condemned. I tried to thoroughly and independently understand the meaning of both and how capitalism has shaped this world, and I've come to the conclusion that a socialist approach is much preferrable. Therefore I don't consider myself brain-washed. What about you?
There were some historical socialistic societies that turned out to be totalitarian, repressive regimes and did nothing to end poverty, that's no secret - China, Russia and the whole UDSSR are the most prominent examples. But how can you blame that on socialism? There have been both socialist and capitalist dictatorships. Clearly I want a democratic socialism, not a totalitarian one. And don't say that isn't possible - socialism and democracy are practically made for each other, unlike capitalism and democracy. There have been good examples for that.
Just take Salvador Allende, the democratically elected hero of the people of Chile, who got assassinated with the help of Nixon and the CIA - to be replaced with the rightist, tyrant and dictator Pinochet.
I am an admirer of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and I'm glad Evo Morales is still president of Bolivia. South America has had some great democratic and socialist leaders. Not even the US can assassinate them all.
Fidel Castro, although not a democrat, has also done great things for his people - cheap medicine supply, shelter for everyone, the "education offensive", social security systems etc. However, the embargo and the economic war started by the US was probably too much to handle for Cuba in the long run.
The core concept with all the true socialists is probably the reclaiming of public property, though. It's the basic requirement to give back the power to the people.
