Well yeah, but we're complaining about them. It's only been a few days since
you lamented the fact that you spent $35 to fill your tank. YOU are merely
lamenting, but there are plenty of people complaining.

Bring this up again the next time we have a debate on health care.  :)

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

Apparently Norway is totally socialist - Democrats here are undoubtedly
envious.  On a car forum I frequent, here are some posts copied from one
thread - a guy from Norway was casually mentioning prices he was paying
for repairs, which started some questions and some startling answers.
Dialog copied word-for-word (posted less than a year ago - the car is a
'99 model):

*Norwegian"
"...They changed ABS-pump and ABS controller plus a small piece of brake
line.

"Price 4.500 US$ included 12 hours work !! I protested (?) wildly and
got it reduced to 3.900.
So now its only bread and water for the next few months..."

*A U.S. forum member:
"Is that $4,500 US ?? Holy crap! You could buy the whole car here for
that! I think it's time to start importing 300m's to Norway!!"

*Norwegian:
"Yes, it is US$ (27349 Norwegian kroner) I got it [the car] for 22287

"The car was US$ 25000 4 months ago. That's not so bad here.We have a
'luxury' (?) tax which is horrible, based on horse-powers and CO2 exhaust."

*A U.S. forum member:
"Are you saying you paid over $22,000 US for a 1999 300M? That's
outright crazy. I paid 28k for my 2000 300M when I bought it in 2000
brand spanking new and that's loaded with all available options. Maybe I
should go in the export business and export used 300 Ms to Norway.

"How much is the tax that you paid on the car?"

*Norwegian:
"The tax has several elements.
For 2001 models and older:
First you have
'OneTimeTax' consist of:
'Weight Tax' in kilos (kg)
'Engine Volume Tax' in cubic-centimeters (ccm3)
'Engine Power Tax' in kilowatts (kW)

"So if the car is 1640 kg, 2736 ccm3 (2,7 L ) and 149 kW (My 300M)"

"Weight Tax NOK 94191,- = US$ 15698,-
Engine Volume Tax NOK 120493,- = US$ 20082,-
Engine Power Tax NOK 116371,- = US$ 19395,-

"This adds to US$ 55176,-

"We can deduct for used cars : 1 year 17%, up to 15 yrs 80%.

"So 1999 mod makes 8 years and 59 % , and I have to pay
US$ 22622,-

"plus 'Import Tax' which is 25% of what you paid for the car abroad
including freight,

"For 2001 and newer it is CO2 tax instead of Engine Volume
300C 2007 model is about US$ 110 K and up.

"Nice,isn't it?"

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

I thought government run health care was free....

It amazes me that people want the 'government' to run their health
care.

The same government that 'heped' out in New Orleans....

Wash your mouth out with soap, young lady.