By achieving this goal, it would allow a significant amount of applicants to be able to obtain a security clearance when applying for a job. It would also keep people that know how to manipulate the machine from finding their way into a position of authority or national defense. The polygraph is a man-made contraption that has a less than average "honest" success rate. An in depth background investigation and numerous references, colleagues, and acquaintances such as former teachers, co-workers, and supervisors of an applicant is more reliable than relying on machinery that detects physical changes that are altered by, what appears to be, the emotional state of that person.

    For most people, the polygraph examination is a highly intense and stressful test that one must conduct in order to obtain a security clearance for a law enforcement position and/or other employment position that requires a great deal of honesty and trust. This means when these polygraph examinations are being conducted, it is often that the applicant has an emotional response to the test due to nervousness and/or stress that is likely inflicted due to the "interrogation-based" setup that comes with this exam. So this makes it very likely that the applicant will began to experience these physical changes due to the atmosphere that the polygraph would in fact register before the questions are even presented to the applicant, causing the "fight or flight" response in the body and deeming the answer as a "lie", regardless if it was or wasn't.

    The scary thought about these exams is not who is being denied, but instead the thought of who these polygraphs and examiners are allowing in. Gary Ridgway, the "Green River Killer" who was responsible for 71 murders, passed a polygraph. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a prime example of the consequences that innocent citizens can face when one decides to rely on a piece of machinery to determine whether or not they were looking the serial killer in the eyes. The FBI claimed later that after further review it was discovered that Ridgway in fact actually failed the test. How many more lives were lost that could've been avoided because of this ONE botched polygraph?

    Certain individuals are capable of controlling their body response in stressful situations and some are not. People have also claimed that there are individuals that have a great amount of excessive control over their thoughts and emotions, that these individuals, in rare cases, can 100% convince themselves that they had no involvement with an unlawful act which in fact they actually did.

    Even with the polygraph being used as a method in most law enforcement agencies, we still have law enforcement officials that engage in unlawful acts such as theft, rape, assault, etc. Let's put an end to this machine that is potentially allowing corrupt individuals in the system and falsely failing potentially good people that can, and will, make a positive difference in our society!

Let's focus on just conducting deep, in depth background investigations that pertain to the applicants criminal record, communication with acquaintances and colleagues such as former teachers, co-workers, supervisors, friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, spouses, etc. Let's focus on the applicants education history. Was he/she making good grades? Graduate? College Degree? Ever expelled or suspended? For what? These are the things that truly matter and it's all obtainable through a background check and phone calls. No need for a polygraph. Past illegal drug usage should not be a concern. If you can pass a drug test on day 1 and periodically pass them as long as you're employed with that agency then what's the issue? If you have a degree, no criminal record, good work history, fair credit score, all your teachers and supervisors give great feedback, you show nothing but respect and that you're a wise individual-- I could care less about the drug you took on the weekends with your friends back in high school or college. We were ALL young and dumb at one time.