It is one of the most frustrating bits about life here, where it seems that we are free at so many levels.
Unfortunately the powers that are (hopefully) soon not to be know that our Achilles heals are our children and they legislate accordingly.
However I feel that the more they legislate and contract, the weaker they become, as more and more people become conscious of their nonsense. I think that we will be beyond this soon, even if things can seem tough right now.