Because you're reading and writing this on a western site? Of course we have our narrative, and of course it contains embellishments and skips over the cracks,

Because you're reading and writing this on a western site? Of course we have our narrative, and of course it contains embellishments and skips over the cracks, it is meant to show us in the best light. Take away all embellishments and show all the cracks from all narratives and take your pick, which one will it be? - the west, with a nominally "democratic" system which has the tendency to be gamed by an in-crowd, leading to essentially the same people taking turns in controlling the countries. They use this control both for personal gain as well as to drive their (party) ideologies which are not always true to what they wrote on their election posters. The populace is generally free to do what they like as long as they pay taxes. The justice departments tend to err on the side of justice, not on that of the will of the ruling parties. - China, with an autocratic system described as "communism" but in reality closer to an oligarchy where "the leader" has an outsized amount of power to get through his will and as such gets to decide which course the country follows. Under Mao this was bloodshed and oppression, under Deng - who was wedged between the Soviet and Western blocks - it was aimed at loosening the reins a little bit in an attempt to overcome the damage caused by Mao, now under Xi is it again more towards Mao's ideology but this time backed by 21st century technology. The populace has undoubtedly become richer in the process but they are not free to display their displeasure, those who stick their heads up above the field tend to disappear. The justice system is on the side of the party which wrote the law books. - Russia, with a kleptocratic system described as "democratic" but in reality mostly a show meant to fool the outside world. From Czar through Commissar to would-be Czar, all leaders have convinced the Russian people that they are both destined for greatness as well as that they are under constant attack from all sides which explains the empty shelves in the stores - the motherland is surrounded by enemies. Also from Czar through Commissar to Putin, they enrich themselves and their chosen (but disposable) lackeys in the process, funnelling off funds which were meant to "defend the motherland" or "build those bridges" or "improve those roads". The populace has been brewed in this system for so long that especially the older generations don't know any better than that this is the way it works - Russia has always been at war with Eurasia after all. The justice system is on the side of the one with the largest bribes. I choose the west, warts and all. You?