By the way, when it comes to owning the means of production in a country...that is, the factories, the mines, and the utility plants, I would be in favour of most of them being owned privately. By "most", I mean probably at least 95% of them. I do, however, think it is wise if the largest public utilities, such as Hydroelectric power, for example, are publicly owned and regulated...or at least partially so, so that people can choose either one or the other.

In Canada, for example, we have a publicly owned broadcasting outlet (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - CBC) alongside thousands of privately owned radio and TV stations. People can choose to listen to one or the other or both. When they choose CBC radio (which many do) they get a radio program with NO advertising, and with all kinds of wonderful information and art programs and great music that you CAN'T get on the privately owned stations, because it's not deemed profitable enough! This is a very good alternative for listeners, and people can choose for themselves what they like to listen to. That's democracy!

Again, as you see, I am not speaking in "all-or-nothing" terms when I speak of socialism. All-or-nothing approaches are usually detrimental to a society, in my opinion, and they are usually embraced by political fanatics, not by democratically motivated individuals.