You are a hateful asshole.

First of all, I grew up with someone who had exactly the same course of illness as you. So it isn't like I don't know. I lived with it for my whole childhood.

You also don't understand anything about getting a security clearance. Nothing.

Guideline I (Psychological Conditions) of the “Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information” states:

“No negative inference concerning the standards in this section may be raised solely on the basis of mental health counseling. . . . However, mental health counseling, where relevant to the adjudication of access to classified information, may justify further inquiry to determine whether the standards of subsection (b) of this section are satisfied, and mental health may be considered where it directly relates to those standards.”

When you apply for a clearance, I think they are redoing the forms, but the old ones there was a question:

Mental health counseling in and of itself is not a reason to revoke or deny a clearance. In the last 7 years, have you consulted with a health care professional regarding an emotional or mental health condition or were you hospitalized for such a condition? Answer “No” if the counseling was for any of the following reason and was not court-ordered:

1) strictly marital, family, grief not related to violence by you; or

2) strictly related to adjustments from service in a military combat environment.

If you answer yes you have to fill out "Authorization for the Release of Medical Information” with authorizes the following information from the mental health practitioner(s):

Does the person under investigation have a condition that could impair his or her judgement, reliability or ability to properly safeguard classified national security information?

If so, describe the nature of the condition and the extent and duration of the impairment or treatment.

What is the prognosis?

If the answer is yes, more paperwork is filled out, investigation, blah blah blah.

By the way:

Of the 150,000 security clearance applications processed each year by the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) only 5 applicants were denied clearances in 2009 by Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals Administrative Judges because of Psychological Conditions. A July 2009 article at www.Army.mil reported that the US Army Central Clearance Facility’s “adjudicative history indicates that 99.98 percent of cases with psychological concerns obtained/retained their security clearance eligibility.”

Source:
http://news.clearancejobs.com/2010/03/19/mental-health-and-f...

Your children don't have a "50%" chance of being bipolar. Nobody knows the odds. There is a genetic component but usually there is an environmental component as well.

And stigmatizing the mentally ill for life? That's just wonderful. Stigmatizing them doesn't allow them to get better and reintegrate into society and live and happy and fulfilling life.

It isn't like everyone is at the same level of "functioning" either. I hate that word, but there isn't any better I can think of.

You have some very hateful views.

I'm bipolar type II, I've spent years suicidal. I've spent years working (yes, it is HARD work) to improve my life and get better. Now you are saying I don't deserve my job and my spouse and all the work I did was useless because all people will see me for is "mood disorder" rather than the person I am?