Gary:
The missing factor seems to me to be TAXES. How were the taxes, including
payroll taxes, back in 1968 compared to today? When taxes come into the
picture, the values in each case would have to be adjusted to pre-all-tax
dollars for fair comparison.
This might tell you the importance of taxes in the scheme of things:
I was reading a car magazine which said Ferrari was opening 47 showrooms in
China. Knowing that this was a much higher number than there are in
America, I wondered how they could afford to run 47 Ferrari showrooms in
China, simply because it would take a lot of Chinese buyers to make even one
showroom viable, and we are constantly reminded that the Communist Chinese
are supposedly oppressed, stiffled and poor.
So I asked John, my Chinese neighbor. He was born in China, and worked for
a San Francisco company until he retired here in Regina, Saskatchewan, a few
years ago. He has also lived in Britain in the past. His very first car
was a Landrover.
"John", I asked, "How can Chinese buyers afford to buy a new car?"
Johns replied, "Most Chinese live in a cottage with enough land to grow some
of their own food, and they can make a little extra money selling any
surplus". "Many people do not trust banks, so they keep their money at
home." "About 80 percent of new car sales are for cash". "The buyer brings
his cash into the showroom". "An average car sells for around $26,000.00".
"But how can they afford that?", I asked
"I know wages are lower than here, but Chinese workers look for a job with
more hours, and more days in a work week". "Some even work 6 1/2 days a
week." "And besides that, in China taxes are very, very, low."
Ed Bratt
Regina, Saskatchewan
1976 TR6
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Fluke" <gary.fluke@verizon.net>
To: "Six Pack" <6pack@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:42 PM
Subject: [6pack] Today's price of gasoline
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