'Freedom's' problem has always been that it's a very loose term. Freedom to do what? I can't even go into a grocery store after the federal government said i don't have to wear my mask if i'm fully vaccinated, without my mask. Virtue signalling by other Americans has become more powerful than the centralized federal governments ability to restrict my rights. I believe the US is scarier because it's more akin to mob rule. China is going to collapse when they get a very weak leader but the US is going to tear itself apart.