Are You Contributing to Bad Environmental and Consumer Laws--and the Republican Party--When You Buy a Car?

• They also killed SB 498 earlier this month that would have banned the sale in California of rotting and unsafe flood cars from other states totaled after hurricanes, sometimes referred to as "Katrina cars".

• They even got California's Car Buyers Bill of Rights, to protect consumers who purchase defective cars vetoed and then watered down before it became law.

How can you avoid making an inadvertent contribution to this behavior and the Bushites? Next time you buy a car, consider buying a used car from an individual. By eliminating the middle man (yes, the biggest auto dealers are almost exclusively white and male), you can save a bundle--and also avoid contributing to the auto dealers' political agenda.

Nationally, auto dealers' top legislative priority is elimination of the estate tax. They have also invested vast sums in opposing improved fuel economy standards. (Global warming? Forgetaboutiit. Gotta hype those Expeditions, Escalades, and Hummers.)

They are hugely active in pushing to eliminate longstanding state and federal consumer protections. They have a long history of opposing safety advances including shoulder harnesses to protect kids in the back seat, air bags, safety glass, side impact protection, public information about crash tests, and disclosure of vehicles' likelihood of flipping over in a crash. To top it all off, they are increasingly inserting mandatory arbitration clauses into their contracts--forcing you to give up your constitutional rights when you buy a car from them.

When you go somewhere other than a dealership to buy, you are not only saving money, and withholding funds from the GOP, you are also preserving your constitutional rights--and helping save the planet.

Just make sure you aren't buying from a curbstoner---an unlicensed dealer. Google "curbstoner" to find out how to avoid them too.

Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, is a nationally renowned consumer advocate who has won many victories for car buyers. She is best known for initiating California’s landmark auto “lemon law” and fighting for the installation of air bags in all cars. She has repeatedly testified before Congress on auto safety issues. She has received many prestigious awards from consumer groups in recognition for her work and is widely quoted by national media as an expert on auto issues. Shahan serves on numerous progressive boards, including the Consumer Federation of California, Consumer Federation of America, and is also a member of the Board of Speak Out California.