Winterclaw,
Please do nto mix politics with this, most folk don't have a clue what Socialism is supposed to be about, blame Lenin and some other scumbags for that :/
Religion, politics, science, law, economics etc, are usually great in theory, but in practice...ugh. That's the "Human Factor" for ya! :p

Anyway, I agree on the pathetic apathy, ugh. Let's put it down to cowardice, for it takes many forms, including:
...not educating yourself from being too lazy or gutless (hey, libraries and talking to people are free, how I learned much of what I know)
...not voting for poliiticians with brains (left/right do NOT matter, skill, brains, compassion, diplomatic skill, are what's needed in office, not "Pork barrel" corruption, pandering to ignorance etc)
...letting shysters pervert the entire concept of justice into legalized robbery and extortion.
...letting heinous scumbags serve pathetic sentences (cause they can afford good lawyers or ocme up with psychobable garbage, hey I know plenty fo folk with har dlives who're honest and loving), while fitting retarded/weird folk up for senational crimes ('cause it's easy).
...lettingour police forces become corrupt and stupid (see Brazilian electricians getting their heads blown off, little old black ladies getting shot up in their own homes by out of control cops)

Etc.

Most folk are inherenlty decent, they jsut arne't very smart or gutsy. Folk who raise their head above the parapets tend to get them blown off, or kick  din the nuts.
Up to EVERY member of society to make it better, the original poster did what was right.

I have no problem with cops beating the crap out of, or even killing folk, when it's necessary, they deal with violent, psychotic and drugged up folk, alas. I['ve been involved, alas, in violence, a lot, it's vile, scary and disgusting. Folk who threaten violence on others, get what the hell they deserve if they get retaliated on.

But there are police etc who're scuzzballs. This should not be news to any adult, alas. Most are "ok", others are superb or scum.

Anyway, the OP, did the right thing, it's completely unwarranted and ILLEGAL in just about any Western democracy, for anyone, to assault a perosn who is not threatening them, cop or not.
She was a at worse, a shop lifter, NOT a bloody suicide bomber, jeesh. Wee bit of a difference, ya know? ;)

Once a society accepts that crap, lets it occur, it's on a slide ot Hell. We Europeans know that only too well. Hence, we citizens must NOT accept that.

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"You did good, kid, real good!" ;)

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