> > you guys have been paying that much for a very long time. Your economy is set up for it. And you have an awesome public transit system.
>
> Here in Auckland we not only pay what seems to be quite a high price for petrol (if I worked out all the conversions properly), but we ALSO have a public transport system which is slightly less fast and convenient than waiting for continental drift to move you to your destination.
>
> The city council came up with a brilliant solution to the traffic problem in the inner city recently. Everybody drives to work and university because there's no public transport, thus creating traffic jams. To solve this problem, did they schedule more buses, and make them cheaper to ride than paying for petrol and parking?
>
> No, the council took away all the free parking in the inner city. Now, there is still no public transport worth mentioning, and the same number of people still need to go to the city every day, but when they get there they have to drive around for an extra hour looking for a parking building with available space.
>
> Brunnen-"wondering if council members have to pay for their own lobotomies when they get the job"G

If it makes you feel any better, city councils are like that over here, too. So are school boards and county councils. And you wouldn't believe the Tennessee legislature! They only know two words:
"Get reelected."
Howard