Perhaps you would care to tell us all what term should be used in place of "socialism"?
There is no appreciable form of "Socialism" US domestic politics. The closest we get is "Democratic Socialism" - which is what gives us toll-free highways, toll-free bridges, fire departments that serve everyone regardless of whether or not they can pay, public schools, Social Security, unemployment benefits, and a whole long list of other crap you probably take for granted and use damn near every day.
You want to talk about Marx and Lenin, go ahead and use the word socialism as it is probably contextually relevant. Use that word to talk about current US politics and you automagically look like an idiot asshat who's been sucking on the far-right kool-aid; nothing but a god-damned propaganda parrot who knows nothing of what socialism actually is or isn't.