Your point that sometimes we accept the cost of "membership" and so voluntarily accept that burden, but more often that burden is thrust upon us by politicians who do not represent what people want but rather what the wealthy want.

While you seem to think it is the wealthy that are complaining about government, various studies show the super wealthy feel comfortable about government because they know they can "buy" influence over politicians.

In contrast, most Americans won't even get their phone call answered by their "representative". Does your Congressional representative take your calls?

Regarding regulations, you asked how people are being forced to conform. I think I answered that. Now you have move on to whether forcing people to conform is for the "greater good or not"?

That is both specific, based on the specific regulation. For example, if a regulated society banned gay marriage and abortion, you might argue it is over regulated or those regulations were bad, even if you generally supported regulations.

And ideological, progressive liberals tend to believe a more regulated society with less individual freedom is better than one with more individual freedom. Others might feel a society with as little regulation as needed to preserve safety and help those who can't help themselves should be the goal.