Rob, I've often thought about it, and like you I'me becoming more and more depressed with the state we've become.
However, I do also believe that it's the job we do that can make us think that way. A colleague at works brother transfered to the Police out in oz, and he loves it.
To put it into perspective for those that don't do what we do, imagine working a shift where you are due to finish at 4 or 5pm, but you end up dealing with a persistant offender, where upon arrests you as the OIC are required to give the detained person the
PREMIUM service.
WTF
I want premium service when I'm a paying guest at a hotel.
Any way you bust a gut, until about 2am when you charge the light blighter and then finish at about 5 am after doing the file to go to court with him in the morning, only to find that the court won't even listen to the basic facts because there are now 2 dozen waiting to be seen to that day so everyone gets bailed to come back in 2 weeks or so.
Then the little darling gets 12hours on a community reparation order.
That's one of the reasons why I really feel that this country is going to the dogs, and if something isn't done to stop it then I too will be off.
p.s. - Rob, I'll let you know where I go and if it's any good.