Middle eastern monarchies are currently better than Russian "democracy". If you had asked me 30 years ago I would have said differently. If you ask again in 30 years I have no idea what I will say. The US likewise has good and bad points and exactly how they come to play changes over time. There is a lot to dislike about the EU as well which anyone living there should be concerned about more than the US (though since I live in the US I worry more about the US - I have a chance to change it maybe)