hand to pocket existence

Yesterday I accompanied a friend to the local police station for passport verification. We found the concerned person at his seat and my friend proceeded to get the paper work done. With some time to kill, I thought of spending it observing the surroundings. This is something i like to do very much. It was just another police station in every respect, but what caught my eye was interesting. It was a sign affixed above the doorway and it read " No fee for passport verification ". I couldn't help let out a chuckle, after reading it, knowing how farcical that sign is in the indian context. However, hoping for a miraculous exception, i continued my gaze around the place. I saw antiquated rifles in the guards hand which am sure have not been oiled in years and in case of an emergency will at most serve the purpose of a heavy rod. More antiquated though were the policemen themselves. Invariably pot-bellied and proud of it, they walked around the place with an air of importance, which had more to do with their backward s leaning stanze, thanks to the paunch!
Anyway, my friend was done with the work and just to gift wrap the session, i casually asked the person, " Is there anything else?". Prompt comes the matter of fact reply, " Processing charges ". Although it was expected and unavoidable, i decide to try my luck and bring his attention to the sign. The statement that followed was very interesting one. He replies with a smile, " that way, even cigarette packs have a statutory warning printed on them saying Cigarette smoking is injurious to health. But does that stop people from smoking ?". Realising the futility in debating, we proceed to the bargaining stage. We asked him bluntly, "how much". He replies bluntly, "Rs 200". Finally we give him Rs 100 and get going. Between Rs 200 and Rs 100, transpired a lecture on middlemen and how we are depriving one hand of food while feeding the other.
Good philosophy, wrong audience, what more can i say?