Top secret clearances during the Ashcroft era

[Woodstock]

Some of us at my job can transfer to a better position (more secure - only US citizens can fill these - and better benefits) if we get a top secret security clearance. I was looking at the security form - a detailed questionaire asking for history going back 10 years on some things, for life on others - and saw a warning that said something like deliberately putting down false information could get the person $10,000 fine/5 years in jail. Now, I'm a serious patriot who would never in a million years sell out my country, so I'd be the last one to be a risk revealing secrets. I had a top secret clearance for a few years during the Clinton era, and it's funny, but I never even noticed the fine/jail stuff when I was filling out the form back then. I trusted the government then - I figured that I'm an honest, decent person, and if I put something down that I thought was true, but it turned out I just didn't remember it correctly, I'd just explain and then it would all be OK. But that was then - this is now. And that's just the form, suppose once I get the job, I'm framed or something. I'm an outspoken critic of Bush & Co. And the job is a matter of national security - so doesn't the Patriot Act kick in? If Ashcroft can throw someone in jail and nobody knows about it, and they never get a lawyer or a trial, couldn't he doctor up something about any of us? Several Republicans I work with have no qualms about applying for the clearance. The Libertarian in the office said hell, no, he wants nothing to do with it. Has anyone else struggled with this decision?

[lcordero]

1. Apply for the job

One more left-leaning person in the government means one less job for a repuke. I'm going to be taking the cop exam in NYC next month. At the very least, I'm going to be doing it so that I can keep at least one potential crook out of the government.

[Woodstock]

2. I'm close to talking myself out of this

It's tough to turn down more money & job security, but...

A lifestyle polygraph is required, too. :scared:

It's a shame, because I'd be super trustworthy. Something ain't right if someone like me is getting scared off.

[DBoon]

4. I've heard nasty things about those polygraph tests

Ask totally off the wall questions about personal sexual practices, that sort of thing.

See a recent Slashdot discussion:

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/12/05/141248&mode=nested&tid=103&tid=158&tid=99

Of course the people I know who have the clearance are very proud of having survived these tests. Kind of like greek organizations that issue brutal hazings have the most loyal members.

[Woodstock]

5. WOW! Thanks for the link

Unbelievable that he didn't get the clearance! Like his former manager said, he seemed to be just the sort of person one would want for such a position. A family man with a stable life and nothing even remotely shady in his past (and an excellent sense of humor, the teletubbie part had me in stitches!) So he was a little nervous sitting in a car answering personal questions. So he was a little nervous all wired up to a machine. It seems to me it would be odd if he WASN'T nervous. Which brings us to this: no spy has ever failed a polygraph. And guys like him are getting rejected. Something is wrong with this picture.

Thanks for sharing this story!

[CHIMO]

3. Hope

The Government has all the money to pay for the lawsuits years from now.

You can always fight for your beliefs. Sometimes it may require a thick skin.

[moondust]

6. I did years ago.

In the 70's while in army intel "fighting the cold war" I had a top secret clearance with some SI qualifiers. Of course there have always been the fines and jail sentences. Later in life I considered going back into civilian intel. Had an internship set up. Then started weighing it all out, particularly the clearance. The more I thought about it the more it looked like a dark tunnel with no light at the other end. Backed out of the internship and abandoned my field of study. That was early 80s.

I can't imagine how much worse it is likely to be now with terrorism and Ashcroft in the mix. I think a lot depends on how much you value your personal freedom--possibly for a long time to come. I'm with the Libertarian--no way I'd subject myself to it.