Perhaps.
A lot of it seems to be about hierarchy and conformity. If pen-protectors were deemed deviant tomorrow they would be attacking anyone wearing one. CONTROL seems to be the name of the game. The U.S. is the most over-legislated society in history. A person would have to spend their life reading federal and state statutes just to know what they can't do. Then you'd die cause their would be no time left to live. Seems insane.
Most developed societies are over-legislated but the U.S. seems to be over the top. Seems cutural. To an outsider, there seems to be an abundance of anger and a deficit of tolerance (kindness, compassion, love, mind-your-own- effing business). Don't get me wrong> you all are very nice people to meet and it is a very beautiful country with many good features. I've spent most of my life watching this 'culture war' play out. I have no idea were it is going.