"The process is particularly intrusive at the top-secret level, with investigators examining an applicant's personal relationships, former employers, financial

"The process is particularly intrusive at the top-secret level, with investigators examining an applicant's personal relationships, former employers, financial history and lifestyle." You know this is really crap and it's the governments fault. One, people don't want a government agent digging into every area of their lives looking for hints of marijuana smoke or evil immoral dealings. Two, and more significantly, when you apply for these clearances you have to sign release forms for your medical data including mental health records. As a result, people who work or want to work in these fields are afraid to seek mental health treatment, or are afraid to be honest with their mental health providers because saying the wrong thing might result in the professional making a little harmless note, which will be released to government investigators, which will destroy your livelihood in that sector of work. I understand the need for the government to strictly check their people, but the scope of check needed really prevents lots of good people from going through the process. I think it's a shame.