Socialism offers the masses something
And what is that exactly, other than a miserable stagnant existence in the self administered chains of dependence? Or are you simply referring to the illusions that socialists have fallen for? I hope I'm not the only one who realizes that the
systemically poor deserve exactly what they get, and get exactly what they
demand. By demanding the redistribution of wealth they ask that compassion and empathy be made mandatory, which in reality means they are asking for a world in which all forms of genuine compassion and empathy be eliminated. The only possible victory scenario of socialism is successfully bringing the rest of mankind down with it, but in it's defeat we would see the greatest possible good for the greatest number of people (Karl Marx eat your heart out).
I'm referring to Schumpeters historical model interpretation of the inevitable evolution of capitalism; that Capitalism made many wealthy and was successful. In order to 'keep' this success (and not be subject to creative destruction) Government (it was originally Bismark) offers workers better hours, health care and pensions, thus improving their lives. The effect, in return, was not to revolt. Therefore the workers win, government wins (monarchy in Bismarks case) and the elites win. The elites / big business win because capitalism made them wealthy and government regulates, generally cementing that wealth by cost of entry. At this stage it evolves into soft fascism, where big business consolidates power and can even lobby to influence expensive regulation (established shared monopolies find compliance easier to pay for than upstarts) - eg's how banks are bigger & more powerful after Dodd-Frank regs.
To do this government sucked the wealth out of the middle class.