That's how the cycles happen. China realizes they could use a little more freedom and US realizes that they could do with a little less. The emerging/shrinking middle class of both countries also moves the sweet spot.
There are many laws in the EU that cut away freedoms.
But such is the circle of life.
At some point people will break free again, possibly violently.
I don't believe in a 1984 scenario with eternally dull and nice citizens.
Human apes are violent by nature.
Doesn't make it any less amusing from the outside, to see the US struggle with their identity. (It's most always just a struggle when freedom becomes less)