Will the liberals who accuse me of not knowing what socialism is please furnish a definition of it?

[Pro Con]

That happens to me too. I can't use the words socialism and USSR in the same sentence without being told that I don't understand socialism. Typically I get "socialism is not communism" often in all caps. I would agree, socialism is not communism but then the USSR never reached communism did they. They were in fact socialists at the time of their demise.

I think the liberals who incorrectly correct me are only interested in their agenda which is to promote the European-style welfare state.
Didn't we come to America to get away from the way Europeans do things?

Ollie North's Gold:
Your definition covers the bases well. Did you write that? Nice job writing or finding it, whichever you did.

EDIT
Greg J.
Excellent analogy which could certainly be used and even expanded. For example, anyone who has ever been to recess knows that teacher-monitors are ineffective at keeping the environment safe. The only thing that works is having parents that raise self reliant children.
I gave you a thumbs up even though we are ideologically opposed.