Dear CIA, here's why I could not accept your offer

I was a phone call away from committing myself to serve my country in the mission of "providing intelligence." I'd had my background investigated for 9 months, all my friends had been interviewed for a nondescript "government job," I'd been flown across the country and hazed with needles, pee tests, psychological exams, interviews, and a polygraph. Thankfully the worst thing I've done is pirate a few songs and movies. Even that was far in the past and I was able to clearly explain why I now oppose the practice. My interviewer mentioned that it would be up to the discretion of my hiring team as to whether or not that one crime would discount my entire application.

A few months later I received a phone call telling me I had been cleared for a top secret security clearance, and could begin work at my leisure. All of this was in the midst of media turmoil, and personal introspection about the future of invasive government policies at home and abroad.

So I turned it all down. Not because I didn't want it, but because my moral compass no longer aligned with the administration of the most powerful and secretive organizations in our country. I could not accept blatant violations of our constitution in exchange for the vague excuse that "it was a matter of National Security." I must have missed that clause in the constitution.

In the wake of recent events I can only say that I have been even more solidified in my decision. I wonder how many more bright STEM students have been down the same path as me, and I wonder when these organizations will start questioning why they can't get people to fill jobs that should be similar to star trek's starfleet in national prestige.

I also know that if I had been in the position of Bradley or Edward I only hope I would have had the courage they had.