The USSR, Cuba, PRC, etc. have all been tremendous improvements on what came before, and remarlably progressive movements. Key life metrics like life expectancy, education, housing rates, literacy rates, and more skyrocketed in these countries. I don't know where you live, but unless you live in China, Vitenam, the DPRK, Cuba, Laos, Venezuela, or even Nicaragua, you certainly don't live in socialism.
Secondly, "liberal socialism" isn't a thing. You're referring to social democracy, ie capitalism with safety nets, and it doesn't work because it relies on imperialism. Scandinavian countries participate in the imperialist system plundering the global south in order to subsidize their safety nets.