This is only true for the American populist definition of socialism. Here in Europe we usually talk about social democracy, where basic needs of people (healtcare, education, not starving) are addressed by the state, but one is free to form private enterprises (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_model). This is quite different from the brand of socialism the USSR was aiming for, where all private property would have been abolished.

"The Bolsheviks were dictatorial bastards, no doubt. And many people think Bolshevik communism is the only way to go, it certainly is not."

Ah yes, the True Scotsman defense for socialism.

Not that it matters, because pointing to the UK of all places (or any place else on your list, for that matter) as an example of socialism is, to put it mildly, 'confused' about socialism, those countries, or both.

They're practicing it to a (very) limited degree. People are still allowed to do pretty much anything they want.

Also, USSR was not socialist, it was technically a state capitalism system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_capitalism

Add Canada to that list. Free market but it's definitely trying to emulate the socialist policy successes in Scandinavian countries.