In this chapter we learn about the collusion between organized crime and political leaders

Question

Also in this chapter and throughout the book we have learned that corruption exists at all levels of government—from the beat cop, to the mayor, to the governor, and to the president of the United States. It is customary in many law enforcement agencies to polygraph potential employees during the initial screening phase to ensure only the honest are being hired. Why does it stop there? Why don't we insist on polygraphs for politicians, all government employees, and many others at all levels?

Answer 1

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (EPPA) is administered by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD). The EPPA applies to most private employers but not to federal, state, and local government agencies. The EPPA prohibits most private employers from using lie detector tests, either for pre employment screening or during the course of employment. Employers generally may not require or request any employee or job applicant to take a lie detector test, or discharge, discipline, or discriminate against an employee or job applicant for refusing to take a test or for exercising other rights under the act.
Subject to restrictions, the act permits polygraph tests to be administered to certain job applicants of security service firms (armored car, alarm, and guard) and of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers. Subject again to restrictions, the act also permits polygraph testing of certain employees of private firms who are reasonably suspected of involvement in a workplace incident (theft, embezzlement, etc.) that resulted in specific economic loss or injury to the employer.
The EPPA provides that employees have a right to employment opportunities without being subjected to lie detector tests, unless a specific exemption applies. Where polygraph examinations are allowed, they are subject to strict standards at the pretest, testing, and post-testing stages. The conundrum is that the ones creating acts like the EPPA are the same people who would be affected if changes were made requiring all government employees and political officials to be polygraphed. Why would they do that?