I say some of the legislators and regulators because I'm guessing most enjoy power and the degree of force they can wield over others. If you can't wield force, or your dictates don't have the threat of force, you can't really enjoy the rush of power, can you? Otherwise, people would just laugh at your pronouncements.
I wonder how many legislators really feel this way. I understand your sentiments. I used to share them for a lot of legislators who didn't see the world the way I do: ie those in the "other" party.
I've spent enough time interacting with legislators (in Utah) that I now believe very few of them have the desires you ascribe to them.
Rather, I believe the vast majority are sincere in their desire to provide for a good society that protects the rights of all members in the best way possible. In many cases they have vastly different understanding of individual rights than I do (A "right" to free medical care, free housing, guarantee retirement, to "feel" safe", not to be offended, etc). Some naturally have a different view of what a good society looks like than I do.
But the vast majority I've interacted with are as sincere in their desires to have a good society that respects rights as you are. It would be unjust for me to ascribe evil motives to these people as it would be for me to accuse you of wanting to bring about mass suffering, horrible declines in the standard of living, and a dramatic increase in violence. While I believe anarchy would result in those things, I don't think you believe that.
Put another way, as a friend once observed, "I don't believe Ted Kennedy actually wants to bring about the downfall of the United States. But if I were to assume that he woke up every morning with that as his goal, I could pretty easily predict how he will respond to any given bill."
From my observations, the vast majority of legislators (in Utah) are sincere. Often misguided and wrong, but sincere. A few are self-serving and corrupt, either rent seeking or flat out taking bribes. Even fewer have evidenced any real desire to be control freaks.
Charles