My Canadian friend, I have to disagree with you on your characterization of the US Congress. It was not put together to be viewed separately, but in total. The US House is proportionate to population, while each state gets 2 senators. Our elections are not "fetishes," but referendums on performance, which is why Jimmy Carter got only 1 term, and why Donald Trump might get the same. The US is more accurately a "republic," set up to protect the "political minority," and we were built so that we do not move quickly without larger majorities. It is the Senate, where things are more deliberate, where things are slowed down, by design. Your characterization of the Chinese government I agree with, and I also believe that Xi thinks that China has developed enough economic and military strength to start demanding things be done their way. The problem for the Chinese is that many countries, not just the US, don't see things their way.