This: "One of the other reasons New Zealand sailed so smoothly through this crisis is owing to its ability to adapt..."

Why would they be able to adapt when we could not? Simple. New Zealand does not have a constitution. We worship our constitution like a bible, depending on it to defend us like a powerful talisman. But what our constitution does instead is to provide protection for those who consider property rights superior to human rights. Our constitution is a barrier to change, a roadblock in any attempt to serve regular Americans, instead providing protection for those who grab the reins of power.