What is #Socialism?

Challenging the standard definition and associations, socialism isn't an authoritarian state controlled society where the individual is sacrificed to the group but a democratic society of socially empowered individuals responsible socially to each other.

The standard definition and associations with the term "socialism" are:

noun: socialism

a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

synonyms:leftism, welfarism; radicalism, progressivism, social democracy;communism, Marxism, labor movement

1. Policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
2. (in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of communism 

Like conservatism and liberalism, socialism has different means depending on who you talk to, whether they are talking economics, politics, or sociology, and which historical association is being used.  Socialism seems especially prone to this as even Marx defined it as being in-between, by what it is not. The synonyms provided by Google are confused because they list apparently opposing things. Is socialism communism? Is it compatible with democracy or must it be authoritarian? Can it work? What is socialism?

I would like to focus it down to a single base spectrum. On one end is individualism with the opposite extreme being communism. Individualism focuses on the individual and liberty while communism focuses on the community and responsibility. The extremes sacrifice one for the other and pit them against each other like enemies. Socialism would be the individual within the community and the community as a group of individuals, a balance. A potentially virtuous circle of individual empowerment by society and communal responsibly by the individual with both benefiting and all boats truly lifted at once. Balanced economics and politics then become possible. We cease to be us versus them and become individuals acting together, despite disagreements, for the common good. Disagreements remain of course but the suspicion of enemies within goes away. The disagreements become over the best way to do good, between which there can be compromise, rather than between warring factions.

Does socialism work? Examples of successful social democracies have topped the list of happiest, healthiest, best educated, (etc.) countries since there have been lists. That seems like evidence to me. It isn't because they are so exceptional, it is because they are social.

In my view, the neoliberal individualism rampant today is as destructive as authoritarian communism.  We don't need the state controlling the individual at the expense of freedom and creativity, or the individual running wild in selfish glee at the cost of civilization. What we need is a society that empowers the individual and individuals who act responsibly in contributing to the society. A society based on egalitarianism and compassion instead of greed, fear, competitive dominance, or privileged hierarchy. Not a utopia but a more balanced reality. Extremes tend to be destructive.

We have empowered the individual at the expense of social cohesion and interpersonal duty. We need the empowered individual to take a responsible civil role in society for both to thrive. We need to recognize and respect the duties we have as citizens to be informed, to vote, and to participate however else we can in shaping and maintaining our society.

When you are selfish you fear things being taken from you. When you are compassionate you willingly give. Modern conservatism has fallen victim to selfishness and is now consumed and driven by fear. The fearful can only lash out they cannot contribute.

We have spent thirty-plus years building an antisocial society that is perfectly suited for narcissists and psychopaths to rise to the top. Our entire society is assuming these traits. It is time we became social again.