Over the last thirty years, FBI crime reporting statistics have reflected a more or less stable rate of violent crime, with a few deviations. Despite this, 1985-1995 saw news coverage of violent crimes committed by young men of color increase threefold. The company that produced The Club automotive anti-theft device was formed in 1986. The home security system industry subsequently exploded, the prison-privatization company Corrections Corporation of America became one of the fastest-growing companies in the world, and "reality" shows celebrating police power (and vilifying poor people) -- while conspicuously omitting police brutality and racism -- became prime time windfalls for TV networks. And the United States now boasts the world's largest per capita prison population... often for profit. A number of multi-billion dollar markets, created out of thin air; or rather, out of manipulating us into being terrified of each other, on the backs of those we've traditionally sidelined and beaten into the ground. A world in which we're willing to pony up a few thousand bucks to put our homes under constant surveillance, while countenancing politicians who jockey to reroute our tax dollars away from child healthcare (thus compounding widespread economic despair) is frankly dizzying in its incoherence. And one in which we we're willing to pay money to essentially bet against our respect for each other is little better.
We're not thieves. We started Brighter Days, in part, out of frustration with being robbed by our past employers. Furthermore, we're not interested in adding to this corrosive feedback loop of distrust and consumption by contracting one more profit--driven third party to prey on and encourage our fear of each other. If you don't trust us not to steal from you, you probably shouldn't hire us. Really, we're ok with that. We'll frankly sleep better, not having to feed that fire.
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