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

Censorship =/= communism. Of course censorship is almost always present in countries that strive to be communist, because the government wants the citizens do believe that socialism is for the good, and a governing body must have the support of the people to survive. But that’s every form of government. Censorship if left unchecked can plague any country. We saw it in fascist Germany. We saw it in socialist USSR. And its showing its head in capitalist USA. I don’t mostly agree with what Twitter is doing, but its naive to think its not being permitted by the free market. Its a private company that doesn’t have to abide by all the same rules as the government. I think censorship, like corruption, can plague any form of government if left unchecked.

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But could there be other reasons behind the drive to innovate besides profit? If everyone’s basic needs are met, can the task itself be worthy and fulfilling? What if the American dream was centered around doing your part in society instead of personal gain? Could that work?

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The ship sailed on this long, long ago.

The only way for the above to be true, is actually through Christianity. Modern culture has largely replaced the pursuit of God - defined as unending worship and joy in God - with happiness through consumerism and a life of eve growing efficiency and comfort. And honestly, even for hardcore Christians, there is no going back.

But we were well on our way to doing that long ago. We are human, seeking out pleasure, and reducing stress by any means necessary is precisely how we condition ourselves for happiness when God isn't involved (this is why Catholicism is explicitly engaged in conversations around sacrifice, sin, etc. Sacrifice is necessary because our desire for pleasure is so strong, even if it isn't strict sin).

When you take away God, and focus clearly on terrestrial existence, you find that everything is limited, therefore, there will always be value placed on goods, interactions, etc. Having the ability to procure those things requires commerce and money, which means humans inevitably engage in resource struggles.

This happens at the low end - competing for jobs - and at the high end - national conflict and war. All of this cements itself into our "modern situation."

Read: Because you MUST gain personally to continue your pleasure and reduce stress, strain and pain, you have to think only about yourself. There are few other legitimate options. And even "doing your part in society," might actually empower your country to "take" resources from someone else in whatever way necessary.