Well, what's the point of using a tool that only works "sometimes"? To ruin the reputation/ potential careers of people that have done a pretty good job of keeping their noses clean throughout their lives? Yeah, that's a wonderful tool alright.
A polygraph is a tool in the world of counter-intelligence, but it is only one of several. If you think that a polygraph alone is going to ruin a career, you are most likely wrong. If there is something suspicious that comes up in a polygraph then it will probably be followed up on, as it should be. I am not a CI type and I am not a polygraph examiner so I cannot say for certain, but the impression I get is that a 'bad' poly alone will rarely result in a 'ruined' career. From knowing some of the people that have passed a lifestyle poly, I know that there are many people who have done some 'interesting' things that have passed them. If someone does have a 'bad' poly and they find something as a result, then all the better. Again, the only person I know who had a 'bad' poly and was adversely affected had much bigger issues than the poly.
What I meant that it works 'sometimes' was that it does not catch everyone. One of the more infamous examples of that is Aldrich Ames, who passed several polygraph exams while he was spying for the USSR and Russia. But they do work, here is an excellent and public example of one that 'worked':
http://www.abc26.com/pages/landing_national/?blockID=74489&feedID=16
I know of several other cases where they did work as advertised, trust me on that.
I think your anger is misplaced and shows a general ignorance of how a polygraph fits into the whole picture. You are also basing it on your impression of what you thought the examiner thought of you. Ever think that it was all part of an act, or that you are just having a case of bad nerves?
And frankly, bitching about them is pretty much tilting at windmills anyways. The government is going to use them whether you like it or not, and that is after getting sued several times (they always win). So just deal with it, and welcome to the government.....that is, if you make it. Be sure to pack the vaseline.......