Will everyone get mad at me if I take up drug dealing when I can't find a job after my plant closes on dec 23.

I will just be trying to make a better life for my family. It isn't my fault that there is no jobs in my area that aren't already filled by illegal immigrants. If I don't do this my family will starve and we won't be able to buy gas to heat our trailer. Why would an employer want to hire me? I've worked my way up to management twice in less than a year. I've never been on a government aid program. I worked 69 1/2 hours a week at my last job which is shutting it's doors sometimes next year. My job will be gone by dec 23 of this year though.Why would an employer willingly let a illegal go and train a citizen.Is it any worse selling drugs to support your family than coming to this country illegaly to support you family?Drugs dealers don't always sell drugs that kill people just like illegals aren't always bad people.What are my options. It just makes me wonder why I have tried to live my life right. How many others will be looking for jobs out of the 300 others who are layed off

There is no jobs in my area. The jobs that are left are filled. They only pay minumum wage. Employers from my area even have a sign across the border that says in spanish come to FT. Payne Alabama, Sock mill capital of the world. I don't hate illegals for my problems I just want my politicians to get off their as_s's and uphold our laws. If they can't do that then atleast fix what they have all screwed up by letting companies move to other countries to get even cheaper labor than illegal immigrants. If things in america was diferent and it was realy the land of opertunities then no one who wanted a job would have a hard time finding one. Withen the next few months the already over filled job market is going to have over a thousand more people searching for jobs. One last thing, have any of you tried to take care of a family while making minimum wage? The only reason illegal's are able to do it is because of they way they live. They live like it is a 3rd world country.

I feel your pain and stress and, unlike many who answered you here, I do not believe you are even seriously considering dealing in drugs. You are just trying to get some of your anger and disappointment out. I can tell that you are a responsible family man and will do what is right for you and your family. I don't know where you live and whether your spouse works or not, but I believe things will work out for you. It is scary right now for you, I know. I do NOT know why companies always seem to choose just before Christmas to downsize or close down, etc. At least you have a bit of notice so that you perhaps will not overspend on Christmas this year. I think you need to know you are not alone in this situation. I can tell you that this or similar circumstances will have happened to nearly every single person at least once and often more than once in their working life. Most people DO get through these hard times, even if at first you don't see any options. I have found that it is usually true that when one door closes, another usually opens. You cannot see ahead, at this point, but oftentimes there is something better around the corner.

I don't know how old your kids are but you should talk to your family so they can feel good about doing what they can to help you in this time. They will feel better knowing you are not taking the entire burden up on your own. Oftentimes, these kind of hard times can also serve to strengthen your family and these are times that in the future you will look back on and talk about your "Hard Candy Christmas" and how it really wasn't as bad when you think about it now (in the future). Believe me! Been there, done that! I am now 51 years old and I raised my two children pretty much on my own and we had many, many hard times and "Hard Candy Christmases," and to tell you the truth, some of those Christmases were the best ones we ever had!

As well, now is the time to look to your extended family members for help and support - you've probably been there for some of them in the past. Now they will probably be glad to help in any ways they can.

Try to not use the Jack Daniels solution too much because, as you know, alcohol is a depressant and will not do much to help you look on the bright side of things, at the best of times.

Also, surely you will receive some sort of pay-out, right? And, there is always Employment Insurance to help a bit while you get back on your feet. I can tell that you are proud of not having ever used any government aid programs but you need to put that pride away, if necessary, and take what is available as you need it - it is for American citizens and you have paid many years of taxes, so you are entitled and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

As someone else said here, you do come off as very intelligent and I'm sure you will come into a decent job before too long. Even if you have to take something you consider beneath you for awhile, you always have a better chance of finding a job while you are working, than when you are unemployed. As well, as someone else here suggested, you may want to consider all of your options, including possibly moving for better job options, if it seems that your area has too high a rate of unemployment. Sometimes, this sort of thing can be a good reason to look at going into another line of work. I don't know your age, so that may not be something you are interested in looking at, if you are "getting on." And, obviously you have a computer - use it in your job search. Get your resume updated and get on with it asap. Do a lot of networking - I mean, tell everyone you know that you are job hunting. I have heard that most of the best jobs are gotten through word-of-mouth, rather than through the newspaper want ads and that it is often more a matter of who you know, rather than what you know, as well as "being in the right place, at the right time." You do still have 2 months before December 23rd. You can get a lot done in that 2 months if you do not let yourself fall into an abysmal pit.

Good luck and keep us posted, please!

Suit yourself buddy.....LOL

If you really want to deal drugs, the only one who will pay the price is you.....NO one condones illegals coming over here dealing drugs, thats just silly.....

NO. GO AHEAD DO YOUR THANG. MAKE THAT MONEY.

take the chance to never get another job. you get caught selling do your time and then no one will hire you because of your history. been there and know how hard it is to get a job, still job hunting

First of all, dont try and blame others (illegals or anyone else) for not being able to get a job. Because if you are so qualified and been in managment there is no reason why they wouldnt hire you, unless its because they are willing to work for less money, thats the only reason it could be. Plus, it sounds like you are just trying to justify yourself with this as a reason for you to sell drugs. I dont think its right to sell drugs but you know what? You are the man of the family, and if there is no other way out, well then do what you got to do as a man to keep food on your table, always put your family first. Just keep in mind that they may be worse off if you get caught, locked up, then who will be around to take care of them? Just think long and hard about it, but dont give up looking for a legit job.

Point well taken.

Your title that brought me here (until I read your full story) I already had in my head to say "local doctors are our biggest drug dealers so go for it".

Then I read your story. It is sad that companies are laying off. It is not like it used to be when you worked at a place you gained seniority, this means nothing these days.

Winter is very hard on a lot of industries. Making Christmas time hell!!

Thought about moving? Changing to another kind of job? Your on the computer and I understood everything you wrote so you are not dumb.

Winter is hard on wood mills which our way of life over here in Oregon. Lived here all my life through the owl debate that shut down whole towns, to no more old growth that put many out of work. To the layoffs of many of our companies over the mountain.

You do not want to be put in jail for dealing. To peeps like us this looks real good, and in your position (been there before!) the money would be real nice. But you would not be the type who would feel good about yourself if you did this.

Good luck we also are stressing out about how this winter is going to be......right now the mill is talking about shutting down the plant Mr. is in. Hopefully this is just talk. Hopefully seniority means something to the company? Otherwise we will be moving on....or Mr. will have to have a longer commute to the other bigger town...

don't do it. you have a family. if you get busted, the child services will be in there. and you will lose your kids. don't do it. there has to be some place that's hiring. go to the unemployment office. are you close to Decatur Alabama. there's a chicken plant there. there's i think 2 in Athens. just please don't turn to selling drugs. you have kids. there's junk yards you can apply at.

mmm most companies will give preference to American people anyways. If there is no jobs, its because of the recession.

migrate to a better place with jobs.

no, teh only ppl that will get mad is ur family, wife & kids & enyone else who cares about u! this is ur decision, so u better be ready to face the consequences & put ur family thorugh hell when sh*t hits the fan! on the other hand, look for other ways out of this situation that r a bit more reasonable. go to school, maybe the gvmt. will pay, take up a trade, do something else legally that u won't regret! sorry, if illegals have filled jobs in ur area, and yes u should b pounding ur politicians, but even ranting about it won't solve ur problems. stop blaming ur problems on other ppl & put ur energy in something u can actually benefit from.

Point taken. I like your questions and your posts.