How differently is the United States compared to the generally recognized authoritarian countries of China

Given the power of money in politics and in our daily lives in America, how differently is the United States compared to the generally recognized authoritarian countries of China or Saudi Arabia in terms of freedom? In other words, explain in detail how free we are in relation to these two countries? Does competition better enhance freedom, or does cooperation? Should freedom be constrained for the sake of security, as in racial profiling, and if so, what else would you consider an acceptable restraint on freedom in order to maintain security; what about torture?