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Some people think of socialism along the lines of European countries which have socialized medicine, long family leaves for children, etc. They are not thinking of communist countries in which people don’t have personal freedoms.

I was talking to someone recently about that. He said he would hate to live under communism, but thought some socialism is ok.

I think that there are at least five 'conceptions' of what socialism is.

1. Marxist ownership of the means of production. A system that has never produced prosperity anywhere.
2. Share the wealth - which promises to get billionaires to pay for food, health care, shelter. Rich people either stop producing, move, or get lawyers and accountants to shelter their wealth. In the end, there is no 'free health care', everyone just get crappy health care paid for by everyone in the form of higher taxes on everything.
3. Green socialism, which just wants everyone to live in mud huts in some vain attempt to save the planet.
4. Anti law and order. No jails, no borders. Not really sure if this is technically socialism. They claim that crime happens because people are hungry, but if you see the size of the typical Walmart shoplifter, you know that's not true.
5. Anti-Americanism. Again, not sure how this is socialism, but the idea is if traditional (conservative) Americans like something, they need to oppose it. Motherhood, the flag, eating meat, guns, internal combustion engines. you get the idea.

The people pushing socialism read the room and use whatever 'brand' of socialism might be receptive in a given audience. They can then use that to build some coalition to take power. At least that's my take.

The question is, what do they think socialism is?

Giving them the same free stuff that we're already giving to blacks and illegals.

You know, free food (SNAP, WIC), free spending money (EBT), free housing (Section 8), free healthcare (Medicaid), free college (scholarships for the "historically disadvantaged"), and on and on.

Can't really blame them for asking.