Context, dude. Afania tried to state that the US could not have been prosperous without democracy. Those countries are pretty clear indicators that you can be prosperous without democracy. I didn't tell you to pack your bags and move there.
How about this.....
Let's use examples that has more similarities region/culture wise, so oil and other factors don't play a role?
Like Democratic People's Republic of Korea v.s Republic Korea. People's republic of China v.s Republic of China. German Democratic Republic v.s Federal Republic of Germany. Democratic Republic of Vietnam v.s Republic of Vietnam.
Those are examples of people in the same region that walked a different "path" when it comes to making choices for social and economic system at one point of the history. And the one who chose America's system ended up being more prosperous when the war stopped.
(Though South Vietnam's economy tanked at one point because of war, I think they are overalls more prosperous.)
I think the examples above shows an explanation why people adore America's system so much, to the point that they are willing to sacrifice lives to ensure their future generation live under such system.
Europe is rich and Russia is poor, even before the war. It's 100% human nature to see the development of Europe and wanting to join them. Calling people wanting to join western bloc "brainwashed" or "puppet government" isn't really fair.
Most people couldn't give two shits about overseas issues when they are struggling right now, most can't even point out where Ukraine is lol.
I don't mind people choose money in their pocket over a foreigner's money in their pocket. It is 100% human nature.
But justifying such choices by calling people fighting for freedom and western system "brainwashed" or "puppet government" is another issue. It's not being "brainwashed" to want to have freedom on making choices.