The police are a government-run protection racket. If you don't pay your taxes, its these boys that come for you. Take you away, lock you up like an animal for a while.

I learned pretty early on not to antagonise the police. Once they've got you in those cells, they can do what they like. Same goes for the prison system, if the jail's run properly, you don't fuck around with the screws. They also, can do what the fuck they like to you.

Just smile and be polite is what I do now. I pretend that I like them.