The police were always about protecting the rich and comfortable from the poor, unwashed masses. As was pointed out, this disproportionately affects minorities, but growing up in my blue collar town I clearly remember a persistent sense of tension and fear of the police. I never had to fear running, but my parents did coach me on what to do and not do if I was pulled over. Fast forward to my current town where recently my immediate neighbor was followed home from the market and had his BMW stolen in between trips into the house and another neighbor was car-jacked in his own garage as he pulled his Aston Martin in. While I am not for allowing crime, the uproar at the town meeting revealed the most vile and disgusting attitudes that went beyond the problem at hand. It would be interesting to do the research based on class alone.
The police were always about protecting the rich and comfortable from the poor, unwashed masses. As was pointed out, this disproportionately affects minorities, but growing up in my blue collar town I clearly remember a persistent sense of tension and fear of the police. I never had to fear running, but my parents did coach me on what to do and not do if I was pulled over. Fast forward to my current town where recently my immediate neighbor was followed home from the market and had his BMW stolen in between trips into the house and another neighbor was car-jacked in his own garage as he pulled his Aston Martin in. While I am not for allowing crime, the uproar at the town meeting revealed the most vile and disgusting attitudes that went beyond the problem at hand. It would be interesting to do the research based on class alone.