"John Steinbeck once said that socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."
Not quite how he phrased it, but close. Original is here: https://wist.info/steinbeck-john/46582/
Ok, how did it work our for countries where it did took root?
Good enough, France, the Nordics and many other countries besides have done well.