Yes but these 200 years have also worked in USA's favor. Democracy may not be the perfect way of administration but its the lesser of known Devils. At least, people are responsible for their own actions and have a chance to correct the course of it, the way they will do it in these upcoming elections in US. If autocracy worked, Pakistan would be way ahead of India by now. Regarding China, it only lets you see what it wants you to see. Huge swaths of Chinse rural areas are poverty stricken and have no access to the world audience. Democracy at least let you see the reality.
