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Aug-23-2005 08:40

Everywhere I go on the net, any American I talk to is complaining about gasoline prices. This makes me smirk.

The life of the dutchies:

Gas price: 6,60 USD per gallon.

It costs 3000 USD approx to get your drivers license. This assumes that you pass in one go, which few people do. Most take 2-3 times. Which is about 1000 USD a pop extra.

A new volkswagen jetta, 4 door, stick (which is cheaper then automatic), no extra's not even automatic rolling windows, the simplest version costs new: 30.000 USD.
To insurance: 1000 USD per year
Road tax: 340 USD per year.

This next to having the highest taxes in the world.

We do not get much more benefits then you do, except if you are unemployed, sick or underpriviliged....in that case you are taken care off from cradle to grave. No one is denied income, health care, schooling what so ever.
What we do have extra is that university is almost free compared to the US. But getting in is not a money matter, but an intellingence matter and only meant for 10% of the country. For the others there are other types courses and community college etc.

As a middle income person, you are pretty much screwed here. Unless you enjoy legal pot, gay marriage, and legal prostitution.

Still......I don't want to live anywhere else. It's great here.

Aug-23-2005 11:18

Please don't think that I mean that anyone who voted for Bush is a big redneck, I was all for him too at election time when I thought the war on terrism would be just that.

Aug-23-2005 11:26

*walking widely around the political aspect*

Here is what gets me. People complain about paying $2.50 for a gallon of gas, but pay almost $4.00 for a gallon of milk without blinking an eye....

Aug-23-2005 11:42

Yes, but one gets more than 20 miles on one gallon of milk. . .

Aug-23-2005 12:30

Ouch!

Aug-23-2005 12:44

yes, our European friends do pay quite a bit more than we pay for gas. But as Gena said, it becomes a hardship when you are on a tight budget, as many of us are. I just paid $30 dollars to fill up my tank and my car is the midget of cars. Not like i have a tahoe or a Humnmer. I agree, we need to give the big heave ho to Opec and start getting our oil somewhere that is else

Aug-23-2005 13:21

Not at my house Gena, a gallon of milk may last two days, maybe. Anyway, the point is that it is all realitive, and we aren't the first generation to see a spike in gas prices. What I wouldn't give for the 25 cent prices before I was born! And you do realize that, in most states, you are paying nearly a full dollar just in taxes alone....

Aug-23-2005 13:56

*heads rapidly across the Channel for some of Jstkdn's cheap gas*
Don't try and fill up a car in Britain, anyone.

Aug-23-2005 14:28

Yes, CFM, it's all relative and what you are accustomed to. At the time 25 cents was a bunch of money and I remember (second hand) the fuel droughts, people lining up for miles just for some fumes, yup, it was worse for them. My point was that we (and I mean myself and others with whom I have had this discussion) aren't as angry about the price but the reason for it. And my opinions are just that, my opinions, please remember that.
Also with the milk retort, I meant that average Americans buy less milk then gas, especially at a time, wasn't meant to be insulting.

Aug-23-2005 16:34

Unfortunately gas prices because of the war increased world wide, in similar fashion. People struggle with it here too. Particularly because the reason why gas is so expensive here, is not because of the price of gas that the petrol companies purchase.....but the taxes over it. An increase in petrol price, means also an increase in the percentage of tax.

What is nice for us. We have excellent public transport, so most of us do have other options.

Milk is pretty cheap here. The country won't stage a coup over gas. But taking away our cheese... :)

Aug-23-2005 20:19

Altho gas prices here in America are getting rediculous, and price of about everything is going up these days, I wouldn't live anywhere else, and am very glad to be where I am at :)