Socialism, Is it really the big Bogeyman?

Hello! If you grew up in the United States as I did, then you were probably indoctrinated very early on about the superiority of the 'free market'. Some of us as we grow older begin to question that wisdom. Especially those who may suffer at the invisible hands of Adam Smith's free market. Here in Maine the free market has pretty much demolished the paper industry. It could be argued that the industry didn't make the necessary capital investments, but not withstanding that, no one can argue that employee costs were more expensive and would have made it difficult to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
As I sit in traffic crawling ahead at an agonizing pace, I begin to question the free market benefit of the automobile as opposed to some other form of transit. I know from local history that at one time I could have gotten onto a trolley right in the town in which I live and not only could I have ridden from my town to my workplace, but I could have traveled to almost any major city. Right now my heating oil costs are ridiculously high and I wonder how I am going to pay them. I see that the price of the cost of a barrel of oil fell considerably from the almost $100 that it was. Then, not so coincidentally perhaps, a rocket attack occurred on an Iraqi refinery, and I seem to recall though I cannot find it an attack on a oil pipeline as well. I am sure that the price of oil will go up in response. So what's an average american to do? Why is the health system so damn expensive? Why is oil and gas so expensive? Why is Cuba, who we have blockaded for over 40 years, able to provide free health care for all it's citizens? Not only that but they send doctors to other countries to provide charity health care! Huh? Why does socialism have such a bad rap? Some would reply, okay but if we did all those things our taxes would go through the roof! I think maybe they would be higher but why then are those countries that people use for comparison all maintaining a higher standard of living for their citizens? Keep in mind that Social Security, which is undoubtedly the most successfully social program the US has ever had, is a socialist program. As is Medicare for that matter. In fact if we are to be particular, our police, firemen, and even our military are socialized programs. See, here is the thing. The free market does a good job in distributing goods and some services according to need based on perceived desire. But that being said there are other things for which a profit motive is not the best way to provide the service. The best example is the providing of health care. There are some instances where it is more profitable to let the patient die. However that is probably not the desired outcome in most cases. Suffice it to say a socialized health system is probably in our best interests. You see most of us have been indoctrinated and continue to be propagandized into believing that socialism = dictatorship and that just isn't true. The current idiot in office has done more to move us toward a dictatorship than any socialist program ever would. The important part is to keep the republic whole. Not to dislodge any rights, freedoms and liberties while at the same time being sure to 'promote the general welfare'. Right now that is in trouble and we have more to worry about becoming fascist than we do socialist. See this too. It's time we took a page from Canada and some Scandinavian countries and applied a little common sense. I am guessing it won't happen as long as we are essentially run by the corporations of america.