It's a comparison of different methods of social control. An interesting conversation, IMO at least.

"Bad guys bad!" is much less interesting, especially when it's only the bad guys you've been told to hate.

I would disagree with you except the result of the 2016 democrat primary was a lawsuit where the democrats argued and won on the basis that party nominations are not democratic even within the party.

https://observer.com/2017/08/court-admits-dnc-and-debbie-was...

That being said still not a theocracy.

The flavor difference is what's interesting.

In the US, the allowed opinions are actually a tiny band, socially enforced. You don't get to be an opinion maker unless you're in band.

Technically we're way freer, but practically? A little bit at best.

I think if you believe the America portrayed on the news you may come to believe that. But social enforcement whatever you mean by that is much different than being thrown in jail for protesting the government while in the us they've been rioting for 90 days almost without repercussion.

The real world difference is huge no matter how you try to portray it.