It isn't just government. Our governmental response reflects the opinions and demands of a large portion of the population. Children who were given participation awards, given into when they begged, and never faced consequences for their actions.
I watch videos from time to time of shoplifters being confronted and people in police chases. The vast majority of the commenters on these videos condemn the worker or officer for enforcing rules and laws. They whine about the possibility of the criminal or bystanders being harmed. Very few support those attempting to enforce the rules of living in a civil society.
I was sent a video yesterday of a father who had told his daughter that she was to clean her bedroom. He entered the bedroom to find her playing a video game on a large tv mounted on her wall. He said "I told you to clean your room." She responded "I told you I was playing video games!" He looked around at the mess, picked up a guitar from the floor, and he broke the screen on the tv. I was amazed at the number of people condemning the father for his actions, and many even said that "his temper tantrum" not only harmed the relationship, but it cost him the dollars to buy her a new tv.