Socialism is when government takes money by force that was earned by one group and gives it to another group. If an individual gives money to help someone, that is charity. When it is taken by government power, it is socialism.
When I was a girl in the U.S. the only truly socialist program was Social Security. But Americans so rejected socialism back then,that it was sold to them as not socialism but insurance. There were a lot of charity organizations to help people in trouble. The churches also helped people in need. But they also held people accountable and helped them to become self-dependent. The standard was honesty.
Taking money by the federal government from one group and giving it to another is unconstitutional in the US, But people don't usually care about that so long as they see a way to benefit (which is where the dishonesty comes in). Part of my family refused to accept Social Security when it started. My husband's grandfather, a Michigan farmer, had lost both legs to diabetes. When the feds came to his farm to sign him up for the free money (newly instituted Social Security), he literally ran them off his farm and said, "You're going to bankrupt America before you're done!"
I had two step-uncles (my step-dad's brothers) who also refused it. They saw it so clearly as the beginning of socialism and the financial destruction of America that they refused all their lives to take part. It was getting pretty "iffy" toward the end of their lives but they died before they had problems with the government. They were very principled people who did not believe it was right to steal from someone else for their benefit. One was a barber, the other a roofer. None were wealthy, but they paid their way all their lives. And yet we all felt responsibility for those in need--but also felt like people should be held accountable for how they managed their lives. I could write a book on that but I will spare you poor people who put up with me.
I am in Argentina where my professional Argentina friends try to take me to the free clinic for eye exams and can't figure out why I have a doctor I pay. They go through the whole thing with me about "But it's free" and I do the thing about "Oh really, do the doctors work for free?" I have posted these conversations before. Who is it that is paying?" Two of them are engineers, two are lawyers and one a teacher. The father had free eye surgery kind of recently.
I am not here to take from the Argentina people. Yes I know it is there, but I won't do it. I canceled my Medicare a few years back. The Argentina woman at the Embassy said, "I guess you'll use the free care here." I said "I certainly won't" and I told her my belief about that. She said, "Well, you're rare, you're one of the few."
Now you can all argue all you want. I can handle it. But THAT is the way it was in my formerly wonderful country when honesty and integrity were the guideline. If anyone is interested, read the Constitution. The Federal Government is prevented by that document to institute most of the programs they are. Our founders knew the truth, even if most of us do not. But as one recipient told me a while back when I pointed that out to her, "Well, it's an old document, maybe we need to get rid of it." Hohohohoho! I just laugh. They know not what they do! And in the end, people (countries) usually get what they deserve!