The US and China are both police states, but there are differences.

The US used to be a moral, free, and peaceful country with decreasing debt. Now the USA is an immoral bankrupt warmongering police state.

China is not famous for being a free country.

Americans used to believe in personal responsibility, but now Americans have no pride and embrace welfare. Some Americans are resisting tyranny by dropping out and going Galt and draining welfare while refusing to work and pay taxes.

Welfare in China is not very generous or developed, but many Chinese evade taxes. Accepting welfare is considered to be shameful by some Chinese.

The Chinese are more optimistic because China had no freedom before, but became a little more free.

The US is pessimistic now because Americans had freedom before, but are now embracing tyranny.