Sure, but it's important to distinguish when a word is being used two different ways, and the only way to do that is define them.
There are people who use Lenin's definition of "socialism" as the name for the transitioning stage between capitalism and the communist goal in the Manifesto.
There are also people who use "socialism" to mean any time the government does any regulation or helpful policy of any kind.
This is nonsense and just you copping out.
The assassinations of MLK, Malcolm X, and Fred Hampton were just coincidences, then? Sure seems like any credible movement wound up being eliminated if it required any systemic change.
tasked to discredit the left
Ah, yes, of course, the classic strategy of discrediting the left by using the viewpoints of the definitely not left wing movement of ... checks notes communism?
Marxist-Leninists do not argue that when you have a communist revolution that you'll just magically end up with communism. Look into the "dictatorship of the proletariat."
No, of course not. China has a strategy of democratic centralism, which actually seems to be a quite effective implementation of a democracy. Unlike in countries like the US, Chinese citizens are quite satisfied with their government.