You don't say which country this is/was. Since I can't think of any country ever existing that was truly built around socialist principles, I'd guess you were living in a totalitarian regime parading itself as socialist via propaganda.
Regardless, it's not as if capitalism can't produce environmentally disastrous results. Google "Chevron brazil oil spill".
According to WalletHub, Arizona is the 13th most dependent state on Federal subsidies. 18 of the top 20 states most dependent on Federal dollars heavily lean Republican. You know, the party that is all about fiscal responsibility, anti-wealth redistribution, yadda yadda.
When everyone else is propping your state up, why not keep cutting state taxes to get some good PR around "job creation".
> But if that's what the voters want, let them have it.
When the current administration lost the popular vote by millions, it's hardly what "voters" want. The electoral college was a hedge against populism. Yet it's been twisted to work FOR populist platforms by gerrymandering districts such that only a Republican has a fair shake, and the state then awards them their votes.
Notions that the people of any country have the government they deserve is nonsense. First past the post voting, special interest lobbying, and just plain ignorant politicians marginalize a lot of voices.
Regardless, it's not as if capitalism can't produce environmentally disastrous results. Google "Chevron brazil oil spill".