I would like to ask a legitimate question and have a respectful discussion if possible. In that interest, let me start by listing my biases. I'm a California resident, I studied physics and math for my Bachelor's, will be transitioning to a master's program in math and I want to teach. I was a Bernie supporter in 2016, and my beliefs lie along that trajectory. All that said, I know very little about economics (which is surprisingly far away from academic math).

Now my question. Aside from the many frustrated and ignorant folks making a joke out of themselves with this kind of foolishness, is their a healthy way to implement a more European socialism to the American economy?

I see a lot of people who have a very healthy fear of the government (which they should) but a very naive faith in corporations. Business, by design, is self interested and greedy, and doesn't have your best interest in mind, at all (even often as a customer they don't have your best interest in mind, but rather your money). This isn't necessarily a problem as long as one understands their purpose, which is to make money, innovate, and grow. However, we've already experienced what happens to unregulated business in the early 20th century. This is also why I'm very worried about allowing business to manage prisons and Healthcare as examples, as it risks turning humans into a commodity, and incentivizing crime and illness.

It also seems to me that in general, as individuals, our worth is determined by our economic success, and yet, while we're all asked to jump and compare height, some of us start in a swamp while others on a trampoline. Could 'equal opportunity' be realized (at least partially or more so than now, not entirely), rather than just an ideal?

What are the economic barriers? Are socialist policies having strong, verifiably negative impacts on European economies?

I realize my perspective on business is also rather simplistic, so please correct me.