No, you mention close because it is all you have. They're not "close" to North Korea,
Do you really want to know how brutal Stalin was?
He actively spied on his own population, killed anyone he suspected was a traitor, demanded a cult of worship aroudn him, starved and forcefully deported millions to create his planned economy.
Euphor!a said:
and even if it was you are equating what basically amount to dictatorships to socialism and thinking that is a reasonable comparison.
That's because that's what socialism leads to!
You can't have socialism without it turning into a dictatorship. When all class system is abolished, you'll end up with corruption because humans will always want more. And because the system favors state ownership, those in government will have ultimate authority to oppress everyone below them.
Euphor!a said:
And at the same time ignoring places where socialist ideologies are thriving and benefiting its citizens such as Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Canada and plenty of others to various extents. Your whole argument is AT BEST disingenuous and at worst simply propaganda.
They're not socialist. Those are capitalist countries.
Capitalism = Private ownership is allowed
Socialism = Everyone (i.e the state) owns all property