That's right wysiwyg. What do we do? I hate to say it can't be fixed. Not in my lifetime. Safety over freedom.
I'd dearly love to give my boys a few coins and they'd love biking to the bakery and buying something. But that's just flat out illegal. DS2 was dead keen to buy his own drink the other day. I gave him the money and let him do the rest, while watching from as far away as 'legal'. He was quietly chuffed.
But it's not enough, and I just can't open the door and let them walk to their friend and be home by dinner.

Just rambling, but I feel it's a lost cause. My ds1 walked from the carpark to the post box with a letter a few months ago. I waited and watched. A postie was going past on her bike and she stopped him and asked him where his mum was. He won't do it again, as he felt he got told off. The postie was doing the right thing - she doesn't know him or me. She was trying to help. We just don't let kids be alone and independent, because we can't.
I am not so sure that it can't be fixed - there are several 'movements' that are about (freerangekids in the US and savechildhood in UK) which are gaining traction savechildhood in UK is particularly interesting as aims to influence policy.

It can be hard though I agree Lenny but personally I think that more people would agree with the notion of letting your kids go to the bakery than not if they really thought about it - and the more people see children on there own the easier it will be.