Trump isn't the best advertisement for how well democracy works. Neither is Boris Johnson. (In fact, Trump v Clinton as a choice for leader... shudder.)

The alt-right and antifa battling it out in the streets isn't a great look for democracy and the rule of law, either.

Epstein may have been the world's most successful pimp and blackmailer, and thrived for years among our elite. That's not a great look, either.

Then there's income disparity, the alienation of so many in our society (though it's probably still better than working in a Foxconn factory), debt (especially from medical care and higher education), the rise of opioid addiction, and suicide.

A Chinese could be forgiven for looking at all that and saying "No thanks. Your freedom isn't going to get me where I want to go."