The propaganda was so bad, the words to describe this system became dirty: Socialism. Communism.
Communism literally translates to “means of production owned by the people”.
Of course these words frighten the elite, as they should. They had to make the common man fear them too…
The US capitalist government, controlled by the wealthy, conspired to destroy the pro worker, pro union, anti-elite left leaning 'communist' parties of the USA. They enacted laws which persecuted, harassed, and vilified such party members. This is why the US doesn't have any left leaning parties remaining – it was by design.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_USA
The notion that such a worker-empowered system automatically conflates with failed states committing of atrocities by authoritarian regimes, is as valid as stating that all democracies are failed states such as the “Democratic republic of Congo”… which is utterly ridiculous…
…yet the people fell for it hook line and sinker.
The people most likely to fall for this propaganda are the uneducated, who perpetually vote against their own best interest (GOP voter base). It is a big reason why this uneducated backward class is the biggest GOP supporter base, and why the wealthy try to limit/destroy low cost/free public education.
This gif describes it well: