Morning in America 2.0

Reuters—U.S. to let spy agencies scour Americans' finances:

The Obama administration is drawing up plans to give all U.S. spy agencies full access to a massive database that contains financial data on American citizens and others who bank in the country, according to a Treasury Department document seen by Reuters.

The proposed plan represents a major step by U.S. intelligence agencies to spot and track down terrorist networks and crime syndicates by bringing together financial databanks, criminal records and military intelligence. The plan, which legal experts say is permissible under U.S. law, is nonetheless likely to trigger intense criticism from privacy advocates.

Ha ha ya think?! "Privacy schivacy!"—The Bush Obama Administration.

Financial institutions that operate in the United States are required by law to file reports of "suspicious customer activity," such as large money transfers or unusually structured bank accounts, to Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation already has full access to the database. However, intelligence agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, currently have to make case-by-case requests for information to FinCEN.

How inconvenient for them! We should definitely sacrifice everyone's privacy in order that they might better avoid oversight and accountability. What's a little access to everyone's financial records between warantless wiretapping friends?

National security experts also maintain that a robust system for sharing criminal, financial and intelligence data among agencies will improve their ability to identify those who plan attacks on the United States.

Ohhhhhhh I see. So it's a necessary sacrifice of privacy because WAR ON TERROR! Gee, where have I heard that before? *cough* Patriot Act *cough*

Jesus fucking Jones.