Sorry, it was more of a reply to the discussion going on in the comments rather than your post specifically.

But in short, demonstrating the failure of “communism” by giving examples of objectively NON communist places isn’t logical if we’re having a good faith conversation. Yes, certain socialist economic, political and social policies MUST be criticised straight into the ground.

HOWEVER, criticizing “communism” while pointing at North Korea, China, the USSR and so on is like criticizing democracy and republicanism by pointing at Athenian slaves and the totalitarianism of the first French Republic.