"socialism = an economic system in which the existing system is abandoned in favor of a system of "...to each according to his needs". In this situation the government must assume near totalitarian powers to administer the economy and ensure that nobody is cheating the system. The government must also take steps to make sure that the system is perpetuated as it would be too difficult to continually switch back and forth between socialism and a market economy. As with pregnancy, there's no such thing as being 1/2 way. Either you are totally or are on your way to being totally socialist." - JediSage.

Why must the government assume totalitarian powers to administer the economy etc? The UK Government is 'quasi-socialist' (though I'm not sure what this means) - and is not totalitarian. Is the UK half pregnant?

I wouldn't agree with you that Labour is on it's way out - I'd say Blair (it's leader) is on his way out - one of the main reasons for this - he is not socialist enough for his own party! It's interesting to see that the person most think will succeed him is in fact a socialist who has been Chancellor of the Exchequor. I, for one eagerly await his appointment as Prime Minister.

Socialism is not 'each according to his needs' - but 'each according to his community's needs'. It is for the betterment of his community and evironment that he works for - which will also enrich his own life as well as others around him. Maybe it sounds an over-simplification, but this is a basic tenet od socialism on how I see it.

North Korea, China and Cuba are not socialist - its' people live under enforced communism who may not wish to live as they do and have no say on how to change the way their lives are run.