"The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches, and we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time and eternally press forward for what is yet to get. It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good." ~ Thomas Jefferson
Is that a bit of desperation which detected?
Beech Trees,
Thanks for your good wishes for this website! We made significant progress in 2002, and by working together, I think we can make even greater gains in 2003. For example, we've been increasingly successful in getting the truth about polygraphs out to the public, especially to those who are directly affected by polygraphy. Internet traffic to AntiPolygraph.org increased about 50% during 2002 as compared to 2001. I think we have the potential to equal or exceed this rate of growth during 2003. Toward that end, I encourage all to consider participating in the Campus Poster Initiative (https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=872.msg5920#msg5920). The expense involved is trivial and the risk of retaliation is negligible. And remember, college campuses are a key, but not the only, appropriate venue for this campaign.
In 2002, the polygraph issue received increased media attention, especially with the publication of the long-awaited National Academy of Sciences report (http://www.nap.edu/books/0309084369/html/), which is a vindication of the arguments that we've been making here all along. Several regular participants in the discussions here on the AntiPolygraph.org message board had letters and/or articles published in a variety of publications and/or been interviewed on radio programs. And AntiPolygraph.org was mentioned prominently in a recent article (http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2002/43/ma_148_01.html) published in Mother Jones magazine. AntiPolygraph.org has been receiving media inquiries on an increasingly regular basis, and I anticipate that this trend will continue in 2003.
Other events to look forward to in 2003 include the sending of the Petition to End Polygraph Screening (https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=799.msg4843#msg4843) to President Bush. (I encourage all who have not yet signed to consider doing so soon.) After the petition is sent, I think our next focus should be to find Congressional sponsors for a Comprehensive Employee Polygraph Protection Act (https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=840.msg5449#msg5449).
In addition, a 3rd edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml) is anticipated for 2003.
On a final note, I think the increasing frequency and virulency of the taunts and rants posted here from our friends in the polygraph community is testimony to the fact that we've got their attention, and they fear us. (So too is the fact that countermeasures is now on the agenda of most polygraph association seminars.)