Why is working for the DEA such a no no?

Colonel Panic wrote:Unrelated question: TCiA, where would you draw the line when it comes to doing a job like this? Under what circumstances do you feel that a job involving government surveillance would compromise your own personal code of ethics or morals?

Just asking purely out of curiosity. I'm not looking to bust your nuts over it or anything like that.

To be frank, I have no idea. It's been a while since I've had to think about it. When I left the ISG, I swore that I was done with the government, even though that's what everything I'd done was pointing at the time. I don't oppose everything, and I don't know how much the rules have changed.

But here I am, I'm thinking a cush government job would be nice. I'm limited because I can't imagine passing a drug polygraph, so I'll never be an agent for most agencies. I'm applying to support position with different agencies, and this position, if I got it, would help that argument.

To answer your question, I'd never put myself in a position where I was harming people I know. In the past, working for the DEA meant targeting drug czars in Mexico and Peru. I like to think the kind of work that this is relates to that also. I guess I'm not opposed to that. On top of that, I wouldn't be doing the work. Honestly, I don't even know if the things I'd be supporting would support that sort of work. I just heard DEA and cringed a little bit.

I guess I'd be the bomb manufacturer circa WWII. Sad but true.

And before this gets out of hand. I get high, my roommate gets high. Everyone I know gets high. I wouldn't take a job that would put my friends in harm's way.

2207 wrote:My post just went astray, so I'll try again.

You could take the job and see if it works out. In the meantime, you could look for something else that suits better.

You might gain valuable experience and it might lead to a job you value more. By not taking it it seems a wasted opportunity if you have been hand picked.

I totally appreciate what you're saying. Lately, I'm thinking a Gov job, preferably with the VA is what I want to do. This position wouldn't hurt it. Thank you for the input.

For the record, I haven't been offered a job. I'm still very much unemployed.

Josef K wrote:Why is working for the DEA such a no no?

Well, I don't really agree with what they do, especially as it pertains to marijuana laws. I don't protest or anything like that, but I don't support it.

Pasta wrote:Ethics are important, but, so is survival. I'll post more later, but survival is paramount.

A friend just got a job at Nike doing engineering, his wife hates it, he was unsure ethically, but he has a 3 year old to feed and clothe, and had been out of work since January.

What good are your ethics if you're starving to death? Try to strike a compromise.

How bad are Nike these days?

Edit; I think ethics are really important. I dislike the double standard that most of us knowingly live.

The Code is Almighty wrote:I apologize for getting most of my vocational training and college schooling through the military. I'm also sorry that four years after I transitioned to working away from the government I can't find a job that's not associated with the government. I'm out of work since January and I'm having a hard time doing something about it. I've started applying to gov positions because the civilian stuff isn't panning out for me.

As long as you're still only 30, you can apply to a few suburban fire departments, they almost always give a point or two extra to anyone that was/is in the military. The downside is that you'd have to take several piss tests.

When I quit graduate school with no advanced degree but a good deal of experience in novel magnetic nanostructures I had two options: I could try to get a job on a fabrication line with a large IC company or I could work for a military contractor. Because of my strong feelings against making weaponry for a living I didn't even bother with the military jobs, even after I was unsuccessful in getting a processing job. I decided to work for some friends at a small independent record label for about six years, making very, very little money. To make ends meet I worked nights doing sound. Eventually I was able to find a job in town that fit my background and was not related to defense research in any way. Best decisions I ever made.

burun wrote:Just because a large portion of society happen to live in this pradigm/mindset/whatever fucking buzzword you want to assign to it, doesn't mean you are wrong for NOT living in it.

Signed,

Unmarried, 36 year-old renter with an "artsy" job where people mistake her for being 18.

This is why you are awesome. Salut.

Jon

If you're an ethical person, you bring it with you to work. Ethics don't start and stop when you cross a threshold.

Perhaps you really aren't an ethical person.

I find it incredibly difficult to forget my ethics, and even more difficult to compromise my morals for fucking money.

Colonel Panic wrote:I actually posted pretty much the same thing, but deleted the post like 2 minutes later because I didn't want to open up a big can of worms.

Why be different from like 90% of the people here?

I am sure we can sustain an intelligent conversation about this.

I live in hope.

ubercat wrote:If you're an ethical person, you bring it with you to work. Ethics don't start and stop when you cross a threshold.

Perhaps you really aren't an ethical person.

I find it incredibly difficult to forget my ethics, and even more difficult to compromise my morals for fucking money.

How far do you take your ethics? Would you consider it unethical to allow your taxes to be used for the purchase of armaments?