Why do people say that socialism doesnt work than point to the Soviet Union as an example?

Its a big mistake to think of the failed communism in eastern Europe as true Socialism. The USSR enforced a harsh equality through strict authoratarian rule that was no more sustainable than unregulated capitalism, and no more just. True socialism is the spirit of the community and commonality, the desire to give everyone equal opportunities in housing, education and employment. In most developed countries, there is universal healthcare. Because people in the U.S. think the free market must apply to everything, healthcare is a private sector for profit "industry". People die so the profit margins of companies can get fatter