I recall reading an article about obtaining a German Driver's License that ratifies your observations about excessive regulations. Contrast that with the relative ease an Illegal Alien can obtain a license here and I think two extreme opposites emerge with the middle ground needed now.
Getting a drivers license here isn't the only thing that is regulated to death (thankfully I have a USAREUR license and didn't have to go through this crap). But don't think that driving privledges is the only thing regulated to death over here. For example, you have to pay for and take a few month long class to receive a license for FISHING. And then you have to get a permit to fish in a particular area of a lake or river. Same thing goes for hunting.