Unexpected Consequences

I want to talk today about unexpected consequences of legislature. I think that these give us a really interesting insight into the truth of a society. 

For instance, a lot of people argued that the revolution in China gave women greater rights than they had before.  Indeed, they did gain more rights; there is no more foot-binding.

But, the restrictions on children in China has lead to a great deal more men than women in China.  By 2020, there will be 24 million more men than women in China.

Clearly, women in China do not have the rights that we had hoped. 

Another example of an unexpected consequence is America's toughening restrictions on teenage drinking. 

People expected this to lower underage drinking (obviously), but instead it increases the problem.  As my parents will attest, there was drinking in their childhood, but not to the same extent as today.  People did not binge in the way that they do today.

I think that this unexpected consequence speaks to the ethos of American youth.  We want to be free from our cushy suburban lives and uber-wealth.

Are there any unexpected consequences that you can think of that provide insight into a culture.