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Difference between communism and socialism is BIG. First I must try explain you situation in Poland and others former communist countries. As I know in European former communist countries every government ALWAYS lost next elections, no matter left or right wing. After fall of communism people were disappointed that right wing government isn’t able to work as good as they expected. Corruption was big, unemployment higher and higher, and politicians were involved in several all kind of affairs. That is why people voted for socialists but situation was similar and next time they again voted for right wing. Then situation was a bit better but still not enough and again we had changes in the top. That is like this mechanism works, generally we have progress and now situation is a LOT better than in 1989. Actually we have socialist government, but we have election in next year and already we know that right wing will win. That is characteristic we always know with side will win the elections, it is always opposition. I share ideas of right wing and I’m conservative, but this doesn’t means that I like right wing politicians cause I don’t like them. I voted always for right wing only because theoretically they should be better than leftist. But generally it is even good that we always changing right to left and left to right because we have now competition between those two and competition it is “mother of progress”. Do you think that we have socialism in Poland because we have socialistic government NOW? It is impossible to instill political system in country where socialist rule only four years and then is time for right wing government.

Now I want to compare today’s “socialism” with communism before 1989 in Poland.

Communism
No free speech
No unemployment, no need for social grants
No free market
Private ownership was minimal.
Only one party, repression towards opposition
Empty stores…
Low taxes or even period without some taxes
No independent of courts, controlled by communists
No free travel, sometimes only to other communist countries, for oppositionists complete ban.
Medias are all in hands of the commies
If we would have internet in those times, it would be banned.
Not independent country, all important decision directly from Moscow
Propaganda not only in medias but also in schools.
We were in Warsaw Pact because Moscow decided that we must be there.
Generally people don’t respect politicians

“Socialism”
free speech
Unemployment, In western Europe high social grants, in Poland minimal social grants
free market
Today only few firms still are under control of country and it is only question of time when they will sell it.
Many parties, no repression
Stores full of goods
In western Europe high taxes, in Poland medium taxes.
Independent courts
Generally free travel, except of third world countries and USA
Private medias depends of visions of their owners
Free internet
Independent country
Propaganda on medias but not communistic but capitalistic. Schools free of propaganda.
We are in NATO because we wanted to be there.
Generally people don’t respect politicians

As you see difference is BIG I hope that I wrote all important facts.

Thank you Lukasz, I really appreciate your information. You are right - it's good there is competition of ideas.

I once had a discussion with a man who claimed he was the socialist candidate here in the U.S. (On a Yahoo! Chat). The way I put it to him is this: Socialism sounds great! Everyone sharing, nice big happy family! (LOL) The only problem is that people being people there will always be someone or a group of people that think they should be in charge. Government always contains some element of corruption as you pointed out, that's the same across the world. If socialism is instilled as the country's "way" eventually someone will come along to take advantage of it and use the laws in place to the people's disadvantage.

I'm glad to hear that things are still improving. I do know that the situation in Poland is infinitely better than it was under Soviet rule.

Again, I'm glad you answered in the spirit the question was posed. I think I understand the situation much better now. I've still got to do some educational research on my part. When I graduated in 1990 the Vietnam War wasn't even in our textbooks yet!?! )o: I've got to do some more studying on my part of the 1980s (when I was too young to fully understand) and the 1990s (when I was busy raising my babies!).

One good thing: At least in Poland they come right out and say they are Socialists! (o: