you’re one of those liberals that will readily denounce the US while parroting its propaganda

First of all, I resent you calling me a liberal. I am a leftist. One can be a leftist without being a tankie.

Secondly, there is a kernel of truth in almost every bit of propaganda. That's how you get good propaganda.

state officials often lie

Like when China says they had zero covid deaths yesterday?

I think most politicians, being paid to vote and legislate the way they do, are probably not terribly concerned with the morality of their actions, otherwise they probably would not be auctioning their loyalty.

I agree with that.

My argument had to do with the reader’s own evaluation of a state, not the state’s evaluation of itself.

My point is that the purpose of the formation of any state/government is always to "work toward the good of the people of the state". No matter if the policies of that state are objectively moral or immoral, the intention is always benevolent, and often genuinely so.