"There are certainly values Western people share with the US such as belief in democracy, free speech and individualism."

I wish that were true. But almost half of US voters do not favor democracy, they favor a single-party strong man authoritarian government. An d tell me again about free speech the next time somebody says something that disagrees in any way with tRump.

But individualism - yeah, that's us. Which is why we have so much poverty and homelessness and a rapidly shrinking middle class. We may be poor and sick and have shorter lifespans, but nobody's gonna tell me I gotta wear a mask, goddamit.