[pieceofthepuzzle]

Socialism is evil. Period. Societies have to ask themselves the hard questions, like "Why are there poor in the 21st century?". I don't have the answer, but it is certainly a complex one, and you don't solve the problem by forcefully taking from others. Poverty has many origins, but certainly there are many, many more impoverished people in socialist countries than there are in capitalist countries.
China's standard of living has increased markedly since they let capitalism into their marketplace. People want and need to differentiate themselves, and to challenge themselves. Take away that and you have the failure of society like in the Soviet Union where productivity was deplorable and alcoholism (e.g. escapism) was ubiquitous.

[driftdiver]

"Poverty has many origins, but certainly there are many, many more impoverished people in socialist countries than there are in capitalist countries."

Poor in America means you don't have cable tv.