The biggest PITA associated with US government security clearances is their tendency to call your family and associates to make sure you're not a communist or t

The biggest PITA associated with US government security clearances is their tendency to call your family and associates to make sure you're not a communist or terrorist. I suppose that's necessary, but it's embarrassing. Calling your friends ahead of time to give them a heads-up would be something I'd think about doing. Clearances cost a lot of money, but you never have to pay the money or even know how much it is. It's a license to get exclusive well-paying jobs.