I've always thought that small town communities in the U.S. are vaguely socialistic. There's a sense of community, where people realize their strength in numbers. One person will help another, without money being the bottom line. I think smaller communities get this idea ... that everyone sinks or swims together. Being the only guy on an open wilderness is a call for death.

But larger cities, this connection towards other humans and nature has been somewhat abstracted and lost. A person doesn't see the direct effects of their actions anymore, as the system is too large. We just look through a pin hole at our own little world, and make choices that maximize our own happiness.

I think it's possible that socialism could work on both a small scale, and large scale ... although it would require a large scale change in mindset.

Edit: Note I'm talking about a democratic form of socialism, not an authoritarian form.