It seems like the main difference between China's state apparatus and ours (FBI/CIA/etc) is that political dissidents are actively and openly persecuted. Now wi

It seems like the main difference between China's state apparatus and ours (FBI/CIA/etc) is that political dissidents are actively and openly persecuted. Now with the politicization of our state and the growth of "deep state" terminology (where US institutions are accused of the same things China does in the open), one wonders just how far off we could be. I still believe that we have an incredibly strong cultural abhorrence to open discrimination for specific classes (mostly the first amendment stuff), but history has shown that in secret we have been performing similar acts abroad. China just has no qualms about doing it internally as well. I think thats the biggest difference - visibility and likelihood to act against its own citizens.