Originally Posted by 2lazytothinkofname
And while we're at it what's with this security clearance business to work for defence contractors? How dare the government require its citizens to undergo security checks? Fingerprinting simply to get a job? Why that is an outrage and is the first step towards a totalitarian regime,
For the benefit of the participants who never had a security clearance, let me explain.
The process of obtaining a security clearance (at least at a Secret level) is not clandestine. There are published guidelines, the presumption is in favor of the applicant, and there is a process to appeal the denial of clearance and a hearing before an administrative judge (some rulings actually went in favor of applicants, so it is a "real" judge). Being a Naturalized Citizen, I have researched these issues throroughly for the interview for my present position, so that I could confidently tell the hiring mananger that I was clearable.
Contrast this to the no-fly list process. First of all, it is clandestine: Nobody has ever explained how a person ends up on the list. Secondly, the presumption is against the person: He/she must prove that (s)he do
not pose a danger. Finally, there is no hearing of any kind and no way to get off the list.
I think this illustrates
Bart's point about the difference between risk management and risk avoidance: The DoD practices the former by conducting a background investigation appropriate to the level of clearance. I don't know if can even say that TSA practices risk avoidance: What specific risk categories are being avoided by this list?