In specific instances the fact that China kills people where the US does little to the individuals involved feels good. However, the US approach of mostly free press coupled with regular and independent policing of government contracts, coupled with class action lawsuits changes the landscape significantly. In the end you might argue that corruption is endemic of both systems, yet that's the case for any large scale government thought out history.
What the US does well is simply keep things public enough that everyone tries to at-least appear to follow the rules. And if you ever tried to do significant business in China as apposed to a Chinese company you will quickly understand that that in and of it's self is huge.
It's better when "everyone tries to at-least appear to follow the rules" ? Isn't that worse than blatantly not following the rules, because at least you know what they are doing?
Following the rules in this case means actually providing the service that the government paid for. The government may overpay for a building because people skim off the top, but it's far less common for them to build something that's so poorly constructed that people can't actually use it. The first case is less efficient the second is useless.
What the US does well is simply keep things public enough that everyone tries to at-least appear to follow the rules. And if you ever tried to do significant business in China as apposed to a Chinese company you will quickly understand that that in and of it's self is huge.