Dude, Socialism has wrecked almost every third world country it has touched. It worked in Europe for a number of reasons,

-First Europe never ended up nationalizing all of its industries and let its corporations operate in a relatively tax-free capitalistic environment. This allowed for an Economic model that didn't completely fall in on itself.

• Second Western Europe after WW2 was almost solely protected by the U.S. and still is today. Because of this protection Western Europe was then able to fund large social benefits for its citizens while barely spending 1% of their GDP on Military.

Put this in contrast with Eastern Europe which, while once under Soviet occupation, Now for the most part have to fend for them selves. Now Eastern Euro countries are Adopting heavily Capitalistic Economies and then spending large amounts on their Military (like Poland for example). Except the thing is, these countries are doing very well seeing unprecedented economic growth. Socialistic Western Europe? Not so much.

-Three The U.S. is big, like really big, some of our states have economies so big that they could make the top ten list on there own. This is why the U.S. government has a policy of state by state autonomy; where states like Texas and California can adopt whatever economic model the think will work for them. Trying to broad brush-stroke the entire nation into socialism would be disastrous because it would: a) be way too much of an over step of government power. b) some U.S. states base there economic model on having low taxes in order to attach businesses from around the country. (kinda like how Ireland has low taxes to attract European businesses.)

Honestly, Western European nations have never truly been socialist because while they certainly have had Socialist models at a individual's level, they are Capitalistic at a business level.

IMO Western Europe should be more like the U.S., being capitalistic at an Individual's level, because Nations like Poland do it and it works for them.