Bending is better than breaking.
America's difficulties mostly stem from its structural rigidity. Bad things accrue. It's not easy to fix them. Especially with a constitution which makes peaceful evolution difficult.
The US was unable to resolve its slavery question without a war, due to protections enshrined in its constitution, as interpreted by its right-wing Supreme Court.
New Zealand changed its gun laws a few weeks after a gun massacre.
Question: which system looks more capable of avoiding future violence? The one that is inflexible. Or the one that isn't?
http://www.ft.com/content/24552cfc-5c89-11e9-9dde-7aedca0a081a