The problem is the insistence on trying to force the word “socialism” onto people. The meaning of the word is completely nebulous, but to many people it’s synonymous with the USSR. So by saying to want “socialism” you’re automatically fighting an uphill battle by explaining distinction between what you mean by the word as opposed to other people’s meaning of the word.

This is part of a larger problem of leftists generally being incapable of communicating with working class. If leftists abandoned the terminology and just said “we want universal healthcare, higher minimum wage, better working conditions” there would be a lot of support by the working class.

But the problem there is that you’d be largely indistinguishable from liberals who you’re told to hate by monetized “influencers” on corporate social media. Corporate social media has emphasized the importance of identity over being effective, so leftists will continue to cling to the word “socialist” even while it hinders effectiveness on achieving goals that most people want. Then probably be angry at the working class for being “stupid” because they don’t understand that you want the same things as them and it’s their fault that they associate the word “socialism” with a country that had that word in it’s name.