security guards deal with the worst aspects of the pubilc in a low status role, there is a lot of irony in the writer expressing sympathy for the people creating nuissances the guards are tasked with managing, but not for the people whose job is to deal with the problems that are beneath even police and vaunted "health professionals." private security is a huge growth market precisely because of the attitudes and beliefs encompassed by Harpers' writers and readership.
I was glad to read that the author had to do some walking as part of the job as it sounded like he would have benefited from the exercise, yet even that didn't seem to soften his aspirational contempt for people who do physical work.
The one thing I would advocate for in the private security business would be fitness standards as that sets a bar for some basic competence that would add a dynamic with more dignity and respect in the role. Even though I would agree the whole job is the living symbol of policy failures and naive sentimental politics, if there's a bet to make on growth, managing the consequences of those failures seems like an unlimited opportunity.
Getting paid minimum wage to wander around an empty building will not become a status job no matter how many sit-ups you do. Training standards would help. Paying real wages would help more.
I was glad to read that the author had to do some walking as part of the job as it sounded like he would have benefited from the exercise, yet even that didn't seem to soften his aspirational contempt for people who do physical work.
The one thing I would advocate for in the private security business would be fitness standards as that sets a bar for some basic competence that would add a dynamic with more dignity and respect in the role. Even though I would agree the whole job is the living symbol of policy failures and naive sentimental politics, if there's a bet to make on growth, managing the consequences of those failures seems like an unlimited opportunity.