Do you pay for medical insurance, college, etc., as we do?

Yup on both counts.

What do you get for your $6 a gallon other than gas?

NO personal service in most places -
we pump the petrol, check tyres, wash windscreens ourselves in the majority of 'service' stations.

As to apples and oranges 74140 I imagine you are referring to wages and distances. Check Oz for both!

Ashchaya - yes, Sydney prices are 'cheaper'... I'm in the back blocks of Oz and petrol tankers have to travel great distances to our stations.... freight charges make EVERYTHING so much more expensive.

Ah, the price we pay for living in Paradise.