Chub,
There are many ways that we have been giving up control.
Insurance shifts financial burden of a mishap, but you may have limits or insurance will dictate.
This extends into the medical care, auto accident repairs, home warranty, etc.
The big areas are education, and financial like you say. Barrowing to buy a home is huge control with tentacles reaching out all over.
Permits to do stuff or to build stuff, is about control disguised as protection.
Building codes for homes is only for the banks. Only needed if you want insurance, or to barrow to buy.
Or if selling, without permts and inspections at least during construction, banks won't loan on it for any buyer. Control
Then you have all the laws. Town laws, County laws, State laws, Red tape for almost everything, licenses, boating, fishing, exploring public lands. If you want to have a business, whoa . . Plenty of hoops to hop through. Even if you don't barrow.
heck, even camping can be controlled.
We have really given up a lot of freedom. For our own protection is what we think.