What is it about children today, anyway?

I wonder about kids in this country. They have become untouchable, not it the sense of India's Untouchables, but almost as immune from any form of disciple, morality and ethics as our political classes. Almost every day I read an article which includes deathless comments like:

"Safeguarding children is top priority for this Government and the child has been put at the heart of our reforms and we are determined to maintain a relentless focus on children’s safety."

Why?

Where is the proof that kids are at any more risk of "bad things" than they ever were before? Why are so many things foisted upon us in the name of our children? What proof do you have that people who indulge in adult vices have any effect on children at all? Despite a handful of highly-publicised "triumphs" by Operation Ore, where are the serried ranks of paedophiles?

Why are men and women out protesting for their freedom to do the things that they want to do being blithely ignored even though "their thing" has nothing to do with kids?

Smoking, drinking, fucking, drugging; these are all things that people will do no matter what the government says. Why is the concern for the safety children being used as a hammer in every aspect of our adult lives?

And why are we, as adults, putting up with this shit?