The average American is absolutely not worse off than the average Chinese. Though I will agree that the average Chinese is ironically happier than the average American.

Don’t get me wrong - Chinese live okay, even if they’re poor. There’s a strong sense of community, people get cheap and inexpensive goods, and outside of the tier 1 coastal cities, it’s super cheap. The walkability is excellent, and the metro and parks are world class. It’s safer. It’s cleaner. There’s few homeless people, and drug zombies are almost nonexistent.

But: American wages are much higher and the job situation in America is less bleak. Working in America is less brutal in terms of hours and expectations. There’s way less pollution, safety standards are higher. But it’s also a society with zero charity. It’s extremely “worry about yourself and maybe your family too but that’s it”. If you’re disabled, you’re fucked. If you can’t find work after 35 because of ageism, you’re fucked. It’s extremely Darwinian. And, for what it’s worth, it’s still Chinese hopping over the border illegally to live in America, not the other way around…