I've watched the brainworms in action multiple times on an relative of mine. He admits China is absolutely owning the US with Belt and Road, their military policy is better in that they haven't invaded half the known world, and their public spending is better. But still america is somehow better and just needs to return to some better version of itself. This is a mystical better which does not exist in the 50's or 80's or any particular time. it just is.