Huh? I was born in USSR, it was a socialist state. Had it's perks like free housing (can't choose), but it was all around unbearable and miserable
Gulag was used for dissidents and whoever conspired against the (socialist) state. What you're saying feels like American moment
EDIT: If you think you're a slave in capitalism, wait till you realize that in a socialist state, the government TELLS you what will be your job for the rest of the life, you can't choose where to live, you're a cog in a system doomed to work wherever the people above deemed necessary. You're a tool, and as soon as you start crying, you'll get replaced. Socialism dues not imply humanity, it's about distributed work and resources.
Well, I did say socialist state, not social policies. I think (assume) the differences are pretty clear. EU have good social policies as an example, but definitely are not socialist states. Extremity versus balance.