We still need the oil tycoons, without them my mx6 would sit in the garage useless. State run oil companies (if they could actually be efficient) would be sweet as it would be a service and not to make billions in profit. But that is pretty damn lefty and lets not go there

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It isnt because of importation, mcdonalds here uses Australian everything(ingredients, staff), only the money goes back the main company in the states. They are all franchished anyway. It is because everything even bread/milk etc costs a fair bit more. But min (and average) wage here is much higher. The UK is a crazy example, they make [shizzle] loads more then everyone but cost of living is huge. Ive met people who go to the UK to live for 2 years working in a factory earning like $40-$50 an hour for unskilled labour, save it and come back to here or New Zealand and live like Kings

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