I consider socialism as an economics system where the majority of all production is done under the direction of government planners.
To me Social Security is a collectivist, wealth-redistriubtion program. That may seem like a distinction without a difference, but one deals with the means of production the other (more narrowly) deals with wealth-redistribution.
Now it’s true that one could have so many wealth-redistribution programs in a nation that the EFFECT is little different than socialist planning. But I don’t think we’re anywhere near that yet.
“Now it’s true that one could have so many wealth-redistribution programs in a nation that the EFFECT is little different than socialist planning. But I don’t think we’re anywhere near that yet.”
We are well beyond that. We aren’t “redistributing wealth” we are printing money and giving it out. Whether we have socialist/wealth redistributionist programs or not, one thing everyone should be wary of is that we will eventually have to pay the national debt - one way or another. Socialism will look a lot different when that occurs.