Having lived through the polygraph experience (> 1) I would like to say that everything and  I mean everything Mr. Mashke / Mr. Williams / Professor Lykken have said in their books are 1000% accurate. 
..In fact... I'm of the opinion, that these guys are being quite kind in their assessments and presenting it to the public....politely....  
I consider myself a pretty open minded person.  I went in there with an honest heart and an open mind.  Yes, I had the heard horror stories (I had skimmed a couple of  books) and I was somewhat in disbelief.  I guess I had a naive "hope" that it wasn't true and that my experience would be "good".... 
WOW was I FLOORED!! 
I'm humiliated and totally ashamed to admit this... WHAT AN IDIOT I WAS!   
Perhaps the sickest part of all of this...and I don't recall the books really emphasizing this point.. ... All of the people who administer a polygraph (for the govt) have taken an oath of office to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States!... 
The people who oversee these letter agencies have also taken this oath as have our congressman, senators, judiciary branch and president.   

How in the name of god could ANYONE swear an oath to the constitution in one breath and then administer these tests in another!  Totally beyond my comprehension!!..  SICKENING absolutely sickening...
     
I am further of the opinion having had time to digest the whole fiasco, that this process has two silent criteria.  1) the person taking it has no clue what his constitutional rights are and will therefore not know how or why/when to invoke them....or if they are even being violated... but if you do know!  MAN WHAT A SHOCK!   and 2) if the person is not gullible and understands the whole thing is an "act" they have no chance at passing.  meaning if you're and educated American, i.e one who understands amendments 1,4,5,6 and understands that the polygraph doesn't work... the person would have to automatically  be disqualified!  How could they possibly qualify you... If they can't con you..you;re out!!  Thank god for anti-discrimination laws huh!    
If this is true then is the government really hiring it's best or it's brightest?   or just the ones that don't understand their constitutional rights and believe the bluff of the polygraph?   

Further, I'm also of the opinion,  our country has a bigger problem than just this polygraph BS... our judicial system is obviously picking and choosing which laws to enforce and clearly who they apply to...   
(Didn't the constitution use to be the supreme law of the land? It's still in effect in America isn't it? )  it is?   
Legal question number 1?   does signing a waiver form (which lets them turn on the polygraph)  grant a waiver to the govt polygrapher of his or her oath of office  ( To uphold and defend the constitution?)   

Legal question number 2... Does swearing an oath to uphold and defend the constitution grant the swearer the option to exempt themselves from it?   Does it allow them to deny/violate the constitutional rights of U.S Citizens?    Guess that's for a judge to decide huh? But obviously they don't do that anymore ..... !!! 

Everywhere you go..it gets sicker and sicker....     

Mr. Williams, thank you for your reply.  I've read your book...and I must say I admire your courage, your conviction and your fortitude.  In my mind the only crime you've committed is articulating the blatantly obvious to morons who don't want to hear it!...   I was wondering if you could help me understand something... In my previous post I mentioned that I believe there is a silent discrimination against polygraph candidates who understand that the whole process is a con and a farce...  Do I have this right?  or am I just imagining this?  I would think there would have to be....  because if you understand this, what good is hooking you up to the machine?  Also if this is true...doesn't it really imply that a selection criteria for these polygraph jobs is "ignorance" and "gullibility"???    Mr. Mashke, if your available,  I would like your opinion as well....

Thanks for clarifying this George.  So a candidate who has a clean background, is well educated, including basic factual knowledge about the polygraph along with plain common sense that it doesn't work, has never worked and never will work.... He/She will be labeled dishonest, liar, countermeasures etc....  again by people who use a box that can't determine lies, dishonesty or countermeasures or any of that regardless.....This is almost comical! ....   

Further, to me, this means our governments top jobs are awarded to only those people who aren't smart enough to understand polygraph basics or are gullible enough to believe otherwise...at best,  Ignorance and gullibility are primary selection criteria!  ...or at worst  these people just pretend to go along with it...thereby actually deceiving the polygrapher.

And taxpayers keep paying for this!!  HAHAHAHAHAH

Right, so honest people who are upfront and fully disclose they are "educated" are rejected outright , but those who "conceal"  this knowledge  are passed.  So... lying is not allowed but concealing is....uh... ok  

I guess that box can spot liars, and people who use CM's  but not..."concealers"  huh?.  HAHAHAH (Sorry I'm giggling while I write this!)..... 

This is unreal!!!     I wonder if it's like a silent inside joke to those with the poly clearances..... the wink between members of the cleared fraternity...  
"Hey Harvey....passed again!  wink  Good job Bob! <wink>.... a comedian could have a field day with this!!!!

No doubt, there are many federal employees whose jobs require polygraph screening who know that it's junk science. And there are no doubt foreign spies working for the U.S. Government right now who breezed through their polygraphs using simple, effective, and undetectable countermeasures.