Socialism works well when at least 90% of a given population regards themselves as one large extended family - like Norway, or Vermont.
There was a guy I used to work with who was a world traveler. I asked him one time what country he'd like to live in when he retired. He said Norway.
I asked him why, and he said because the gov. does so much for their citizens. I asked him then if that's where he was going to live when he retired. He said no. I said why is that, I thought Norway was the greatest country in the world? He said because the cost of living is too high.
I asked why he thought it was so great then. Then with a little irritation he repeated because the gov. does so much for the citizen.
I then said well why not move there? He looked at me with disgust, and walked away.