Would it be selling out...

[RadioRaheem84]

If one were to intern with the FBI's white collar crime division to investigate corporate fraud? Or perhaps join the SEC? It seems like an indirect way to combat corporate corruption.

Or

Join USAID or any other development agency funded by the US government.

Point is, how could I put my Econ degree to good use short of going into the private sector?

[Led Zeppelin]

The majority of workers work in the private sector, so I don't see a problem with it.

I wouldn't consider it selling out.

[RadioRaheem84]

Yeah but most of the jobs for Econ majors in the private sector are investment banking for an I-bank or a hedge fund, that racket called management consulting, working in the finance department for an oil/energy company, or work in accounting for a retail/sales department store.

I would atleast like to do something good with the degree, but is joining a federal agency a bit much?

[apathy maybe]

What were you doing getting an economics degree in the first place?

What do you consider yourself politically? (This is important, for me, as an anarchist, it is "selling out", but your politics aren't my politics.)

Have you considered getting <i>another</i> degree on top of your under graduate degree? This would enable you to have a greater range of options. (Oh wait, you are in the USA right? Sucks to have a crappy higher education sector, move to Sweden for a few years, free higher education, even for foreigners. Plus it is an English speaking country.)

[Dr Mindbender]

If one were to intern with the FBI's white collar crime division to investigate corporate fraud? Or perhaps join the SEC? It seems like an indirect way to combat corporate corruption.

Or

Join USAID or any other development agency funded by the US government.

Point is, how could I put my Econ degree to good use short of going into the private sector?
just stay out of the police and military and you'll be fine. :)

[Colonello Buendia]

I don't think that's selling out, we have to make a living or we die bankrupt trying to feed our starving families, joining the FBI would be selling out, though. on this subject, is it selling out to buy a coffee in Starbucks or Macdonalds, I don't but just so as I know

[RadioRaheem84]

What were you doing getting an economics degree in the first place?

What do you consider yourself politically? (This is important, for me, as an anarchist, it is "selling out", but your politics aren't my politics.)

Have you considered getting <i>another</i> degree on top of your under graduate degree? This would enable you to have a greater range of options. (Oh wait, you are in the USA right? Sucks to have a crappy higher education sector, move to Sweden for a few years, free higher education, even for foreigners. Plus it is an English speaking country.)






Well I know in Europe there are far more options for grads. Here it's work for the private sector, i.e. Fortune 500, or work for the Feds. Anything in between (NGO, Non-profit) is under funded and mocked, almost as if others want to squeeze them out of existence. Foundations that are set up to aleviate poverty, disease and hunger are usually set up by the same big companies that created it in the first place. Working for the state or local government is hell and finally working for retail is even worse.

That about sums up the workforce in America for econ grads. I think I may just go straight into grad school.

[RadioRaheem84]

joining the FBI would be selling out, though.

Even if its in the White Collar Crime and Corporate fraud division?

What about the SEC?

[Dr Mindbender]

The feds have the power to arrest people don't they?

That makes them anti-worker in my book.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Even if its in the White Collar Crime and Corporate fraud division?

What about the SEC?

Even if it is fighting white collar crime, it isn't helping create power in the working class to fight corruption, it would be strengthening the power and legitimacy of the FBI and the US state. I want people to fight against corporate corruption from their unions and workplaces. This would build confidence of workers and show that workers can force their interests on their employers rather than the other way around (i.e. the status quo).

I would have loved to see Saddam's regime fall, but I didn't support the US doing it because it would not help people in Iraq to have one government imposed on them over another.

[blackstone]

As long as your selling your labor power to others, your "selling out". Don't worry about it. Get yours.

[RadioRaheem84]

Federal Development Agencies that promote economic development to other nations. Is this a productive area to start out in or is it another agent of US foriegn policy?

[supernaltempest]

What about NSA? Is that "selling out"?

[RadioRaheem84]

NSA would equal National Sell-Out Agency. C'mon!

Anyways, on USAID or any development agency adminstered by the US. Would that be off focus considering that most issues of development in the US are geared toward liberal policies?

[bezdomni]

Joining the FBI is selling out, yes. Even if you are investigating "white collar crime" and arresting "corrupt businessmen", you're working for the biggest criminals on the planet.

You seem to believe that the U.S. government is not on the side of the crooked businessman (which is, quite frankly, every businessman around). Why is that?

[RadioRaheem84]

The FBI may be pushing it, but the totality of the federal government is not mired in corruption. I think I may try my hand out at the SEC. I mean what else is supposed to monitor corrupt corruption?

[#FF0000]

As I see it, the way capitalism is set up requires you to sell out to survive, and requires that someone else suffers for you (and/or others) to be comfortable. So, really, there's blood on all our hands no matter what we do. I agree with Blackstone here. You're selling out no matter what, but what other choice do you have? Like he said, get yours.

[bezdomni]

The FBI may be pushing it, but the totality of the federal government is not mired in corruption. I think I may try my hand out at the SEC. I mean what else is supposed to monitor corrupt corruption?

The problem isn't corruption. It's capitalism and the ideas that it breeds. You can't even pretend to fight "corruption" without fighting the entire fucking capitalist system.

Needless to say, working for the system creates a conflict of interest.

[Organic Revolution]

If one were to intern with the FBI's white collar crime division to investigate corporate fraud? Or perhaps join the SEC? It seems like an indirect way to combat corporate corruption.

Or

Join USAID or any other development agency funded by the US government.

Point is, how could I put my Econ degree to good use short of going into the private sector?

Why don't you put some study into worker run co-ops and help start a collective factory or something?

[Lord Testicles]

You could just go into teaching...

[juozokas]

Why don't you put some study into worker run co-ops and help start a collective factory or something?

Cause self-sustained capitalism is not selling out at all...

Seriously, it's selling out. It's the fucking FBI. But I would take the job cause it's probably a decent wage & pretty comfy.

[Colonello Buendia]

whatever you do, don't become a fed, they're worse than the cops when it comes to bourgeois control and enforcement of the capitalist state. so yeah like Skinz said, go into teaching or something Universities would probably be more accepting of a leftist though, god forbid our kids falling prey to communism!

[Red October]

I think it's iffy, and you could end up just being some government tool. Really, the FBI, SEC, and the US government as a whole are on the side of the corporate criminals and while they may wag their fingers at a few who step out of line, they're not gonna do anything against capitalism. You'd be better off doing something more constructive like teaching than being an FBI agent. Plus, I doubt the FBI would accept a communist or anarchist. What exactly are you? You never really said that.