This job has such a steep learning curve, that even with 7 or 8 years service you're still unsure and have to get in touch with the experts, whether it be the traffic wank on theteam, or the poor sap who deals with domestics up to their eyeballs. Doubly so if you're on response and the sheer variety of incidents that you can be sent to attend.

In regards to your second point, I was very left leaning and liberal too. I still am although definitely feel jaded at the welfare state that seems to support these folk to be unemployed and incentivize them to breed like rabbits, and the subsequent journey through the criminal justice system that these individuals often find themselves and their offspring traversing.

The key point to remember is that we encounter such a small portion of the population, and due to the nature of the job, the chances are the person we encounter is likely to be involved in criminality or are distressed because they've been the victim of such. We see them at their worst.

Further, try to focus on the worthy jobs that we do. Returning an infant to their parent after they've wandered off. Safeguarding people from domestic abuse. Community outreach at schools or youth clubs. Sometimes its like pissing into the wind, but we do do some good.