It is a fact that the growing economic pie in the last 30 odd years has not only increased the wellbeing of people but allowed for a climate of political loosening around the world but particularly in China. This is not a myth. On average, everyone benefited. Conversely it is the threat of a return to the traditional zero-sum rapacity of the capital-rich against the capital-poor since 2008 that has led to the retreat we see in political and economic freedom almost everywhere. You're sadly drawing the wrong lessons from this. Growing the pie isn't your problem. But having the growth go to a small number of people and to wars does not work. Would you still be complaining if the money gained from trade with China were spent on modernizing America instead of wars and stuffing the offshore accounts of a few?