What year were you there perhaps? I walked about a mile to school from 5 years old up with only the supervision of my 2 year older brother. I was born in 89' so this has likely changed to being more protective. Media preaches fear.

Groceries shocked me that they had taxes on them when I moved out of Florida. Florida is price on shelf for groceries. Tennessee is price plus sales tax, which is 9-10% where I live. Kind of crazy.

We were never in the house as kids though, about an hour a week of "screen time". Mostly playing basketball and running around doing whatever.