On Thursday, July 8, 2004, at 09:09 AM, Bryan Savage wrote:
>
> Those who live in counties where these enterprises exist enjoy very
> low taxes and excellent public facilities.
>
> Hmmmm...
> Bryan
>
>
Actually, no, the taxes aren't all that low at all. My dad lives in
Austria, and where he lives houses of the red-light persuasion are
legal -- and the taxes are sky-high. He pays 8-9 bucks/QUART for motor
oil, $4/gallon for gasoline, and so on. Medical care is state-paid --
but not near as fancy as we're used to having here. State-paid
hospitalisation (for a hernia surgery for him) got him in an 8-person
ward with bathroom down the hall. Doctors made their rounds on
weekdays. Various medical tests that the docs ordered -- one today,
another tomorrow, and the third -- well, it's the weekend, so we'll try
to get around to that last one Monday. Cool your heels in the
meantime, they told him. I don't think it's what I want, that's for
sure.
Bureaucracy reigns supreme - it took him many months to get his '87
Mercury licensed there, 'cause the inspector didn't want to okay it --
Gotta put in all new shocks 'cause one of them has a drop of oil
showing;, must install new front bumper because there's a small dent in
the old one, please install all new steering linkage because one
tie-rod end is looking loose..." Finally a call was made to the local
"governor", who is a friend of the family there, and the Gov. called
the inspector, and the car was granted permission to drive --- with no
repairs, no delays.
Too much government, I hear. There are houses of ill repute in each
town, and they, too, pay high taxes.
Take it for what it's worth. . .
Jon Wennerberg
Seldom Seen Slim Land Speed Racing
Marquette, Michigan
(that's 'way up north)
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