Originally posted by Airhead
No, secret clearances add little to ones' salary. Also we don't try to avoid classified information; indeed, we seek it out and expose it. Basically the difference in our two systems of Government is that in the (former) Soviet Union, and every Nation like it, the people fear their Government; in America our Government fears us.
The main reason for avoiding classified information in Soviet times was that signing a "form" made you stay inside country, with no possibility to go abroad until your clearence expires. In my case - I signed "Form 3" in 1990 it meant nothing. It included all the crap like "not talking to foreigners" but noone cared, I exchanged letters with my American friends and even worked as a guide for students from Netherlands. "Form-2" could be a little worse. My Father had all possible access clearance, and it was expired 5 years after he retired from the Army.
Originally posted by Airhead
An example is what happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I was at a Community Events party and ran into my State Legislator behind the scenes as she was enjoying a private moment with a cigarette.
Her political personna is anti-tobacco, and she asked I keep her "getting caught" private.
This is an example of rotten and hypocritical bourgeous political system!
If only we could have problems like yours!
When I say "classified information" I mean defence. Not political crap, but details about weapon systems, defence plans and data. I had to sign "Form-3" on my second year in college because I studied "conventional warheads", supposed to be a weapon engineer. I also needed clearance to study in a "military department" of my institute, where we studied to became a reserve SAM officers.
Originally posted by Airhead
Had I been a Soviet citizen, and had I seen a party member engaging in something that might discredit them, I would never be "asked" to keep quiet; indeed, the KGB would show up at my two room State owned cement block apartment I was sharing with my parents, three siblings, five children and eighteen nieces and nephews and drag us all into the woods where we would be shot and buried in a shallow grave.
Seriously, I don't blame you for avoiding classified information. In your position I would too.
Beautiful!
Do you have other stories like that?
Don't you think you watched too much TV or something?
I find it amazing that intelligent people believe all that propaganda crap about life in USSR.
Now the times have changed, and people who have highest access can leave the country any time. I have friends who work for defence and travel all over the world and even have some additional contracts with Western hi-tech companies. I simply don't like all that classified stuff - it's difficult to work when your materials are all kept in "secret library" and you can't take them home. When I studied one of the worst things was working on a project that I had to draw (3 A1 sheets) only in special rooms in my institute.
