re: What is your definition of socialism? And why or why not is it an effective system?

Tribalism is certainly a thing in politics. Contrary to your assumption, I’m an independent not because of my political leanings. But because I believe the party system is undemocratic in nature. I agree that voter bases from both sides usually get duped by the people they vote in simply because “muh party”. I wish we could do away with parties completely but that’ll never happened in my lifetime.