Stuck on a track
When my nieces were younger my brother had a trick for getting them to do what he wanted. He would present one of his daughters with two options and say she could make her own choice. One option was always a more undesirable one that he knew she wouldn't choose. It gave the appearance of choice while he still directed her behavior. I'm not sure at what age that stops working with children or if it ever does.
I get the feeling that tactic is being used right now with the high-speed rail debate in Springfield and I believe both sides are doing it. Neither of the two options we're being presented with seem all that desirable.