I think he was comparing life generally in the US and other Western Countries to life in Russia, China, Iran, etc. Western Countries are no angels, but by and large their is far less repression and corruption.

BTW -- the Government is made up of people. Citizens. People become politicians because they are voted in by other people. I find it unusual that people talk about "government" as if it is something that is detached from the citizens. People are the Government. People determine the direction of Government.

If you forget that people are the Government then you've pretty much given up on democracy.