Buying a car now entails proving you're not a terrorist

While the Internal Revenue Service has always monitored cash transactions of $10,000 or more, car dealerships are now required to perform background checks on potential customers. The mandatory checks were issued as part of George W.'s executive order 13224, as part of a scheme to reduce money laundering and freeze terrorist assets, and dealers can be fined $250K for not complying. A Treasury Department spokeswoman called the effort "one of the most important weapons" for fighting terrorism. Car dealers are calling it "really annoying," especially when customers get all righteous and offended about it. But just remember, if you make a big stink about having your privacy invaded and then end up not buying a car and not contributing to the economy, which is sad and sorry and desperate for every penny you can throw at it, you are, say it with me now, letting the terrorists win.