We need to be selective.

"Reacting to the raging protests on American university campuses, India took a dig at the US government on 'democracy', an issue Washington regularly uses to lecture the world." "The spokesperson said there has to be a right balance between freedom of expression, a sense of responsibility, and public safety in every democracy." India Today. But, who decides what the right balance is? In July 2021, during a visit to India, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken "talked about a rising threat to global democracies and that the two leading ones should stand together to support the threatened ideals." Chinese spokesperson Zhao Lijian reacted by saying that democracy "is not a patent to any country." On India he said, "In some countries, without money you cannot get votes. Political parties place their interest above that of the people." HT. In February 2024, "The electoral bonds scheme was annulled by the Supreme Court" and the Court also ordered the State Bank of India "the only authorised seller, to furnish all relevant info to the election watchdog in a time-bound manner." ET. Out of a total of Rs 165.18 billion raised through the bonds, Rs 82.518 billion went to the BJP, with the Congress coming second with Rs 19.52 billion and the Trinamool Congress third with Rs 17.05 billion. The BJP received more than all others combined. The Wire. In  2018, "Iran is worried about the health of US democracy. Iranian state television zeroed on the voting irregularities reported throughout America during midterm elections." The Independent. In March 2024, "Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized US elections, dismissing them as undemocratic while responding to Western critiques of Russia's electoral process." TOI. In January 2021, "Iran, Russia and China...scorned the scenes of Americans rampaging through the Capitol the day before as they tried to stop a peaceful transition of power." Times of Israel. In 2021, "North Korea has denounced Washington for using "American-style democracy'" as a tool to interfere in other countries' affairs, after the US hosted its Summit for Democracy." In February 2023, "BBC offices in India have been searched as part of an investigation by income tax authorities," "after the broadcaster aired a documentary in the UK critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi." BBC. In June 2023, "After a series of diktats surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence at Delhi University's (DU) centenary celebrations on June 30, the Delhi police allegedly entered two student activists' houses and camped there for nearly five hours to ensure that they did not leave the house and that no disruptions were caused at the event." The Wire. Of course, the US is deeply flawed. But, should we criticise the US in common with China, Iran and North Korea? Not a good group, are they?