Regarding Venezuela, when it became socialist, things became rapidly better. You just do not know about the right-wing government that preceded Chavez. Its because things got better for the majority that Chavez got huge landslide victories at the polls. The people LOVED Chavez. Not the rich and internet-savvy people, but those who got their own houses, food, schooling and healthcare for the first time.
Last December, a right-wing government came in, and since then, things seem to have taken a nose-dive.
However, Venezuela is not the example to follow - its fortunes follow oil prices. Regardless of govt, things go up when oil prices go up and things go down when oil prices go down.
The REAL examples are Singapore, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, and to a lesser extent, Germany, France, the UK, Canada and Australia. All of these have govt. healthcare, govt. safety nets, govt retirement schemes, and in some cases, (mainly singapore), govt-owned businesses.
Compare those with America. Not overall wealth (GDP), but MEDIAN wealth, life quality, and happiness scores.