I have started to change my stance on China. Is it worse than the US if you hold them both up to the light? Sure, all of us can cite Chinese ills that we don't have, especially in regard to individual freedoms and democracy. But those things can be fixed.

China has never in its history practiced imperialism. They don't have a burgeoning and entrenched oligarchy.

What good is democracy when popular initiatives never see the light of day? What good is it when political parties ignore court ruling and continue to hold elections on Gerry meandered maps? What good is it when people are continually enslaved by debt and taken advantage of?

I'm not arguing for China here but we have a handful of social media properties controlled by one man who can change the narrative on anything with the drop of a hat.

We don't even really promote the individual (liberal democracy) anymore. The rich and powerful leverage ignorance to hold power. It is disgusting.

And for the record, I still hold onto American exceptionalism as principal and believe America is the light of the world. This experiment has allowed many to ascend from poverty and make something of themselves despite what they were born into many, many times over.