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"norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback" (norskracer98)
08/28/2014 at 23:53 • Filed to: Norway

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Because of this article, and other reasons, I will live in the greatest country on Earth, Norway, at some point in my life.

This is actually a pretty interesting article from a couple days ago about how Norway is a really rich place because of it's oil but hasn't turned into a Saudi Arabia. Can we at least get a GP and a proper car manufacturer now please? And no supercars, we need a proper peoples car to compete with VAG.

DISCUSSION (52)

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/28/2014 at 23:59

it's not just the oil. Norgwegians pay a shit tonne of tax.

Similar to how the UK had heaps of North Sea oil money but spent it all on infrastructure while keeping taxes comparatively low.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 00:04

Yeah, they're not spending the money that's one of the reason it's there and not spent and useless stuff.

PatBateman > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:19

Cool story bro.

- Texas

;)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PatBateman
08/29/2014 at 00:20

How much of our oil actually comes from Texas? Legit question and don't feel like using Google.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:22

well infrastructure is pretty useful, but I get what you mean. They haven't squandered it on tax breaks for mining companies for example.

PatBateman > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:22

We have about 7 billion barrels in our reserves. Not sure about output, but it's a lot. Also, we have a metric shit ton of both natural gas reserves and refineries.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 00:24

Well they already have a pretty good infrastructure. They don't have a really large motorway system like the US and UK though, that I'm aware of.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PatBateman
08/29/2014 at 00:26

Do we actually use more of this now or are we still taking all of the middle eastern oil, I think we've started using more domestic sources recently. Which is good.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:26

They do, yeah, but they got the money for infrastructure through tax, not oil. I think VAT is as much as 25%, imported cars are up about 100%... if you remember that Jalop article on the Tesla Model S being the most popular vehicle there because it came out at about the within spitting difference of the price of a Golf GTI after tax.

Don't get me wrong, it's apparently a lovely place to live.. and I agree with high taxation because I'm a card carrying socialist.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 00:29

Taxes in the Scandinavian countries are ridiculous but the people are happy. Plus they have a really high standard of living which I guess kind of balances out how crazy the taxes are.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:35

The cold is the only downside I see of Norway. I live in Australia where I get the warmth without the high taxes :P (but a high cost of living :( )

PatBateman > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:35

Yes, we're using a lot of it now. The US is currently a net exporter of petroleum products, and within the next ten years, it'll be energy independent.

Soon, the first few LNG ships will be completed, with MANY MANY more on the way. With that, the gulf coast will be shipping about as much energy out as they receive.

Also, Russia and China are now about to start arguing about who will be in charge of guarding the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, because we won't be anymore.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PatBateman
08/29/2014 at 00:40

Interesting, thanks for the info. You don't really hear that much about energy ever and I rarely look for it as much as I should because of it's importance.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 00:51

I live in the northern United States so I'm used to the cold winters, although I'm sure our summers are much warmer.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 00:57

High HDI/standard of living =/= happiness, no matter how the UN names their studies .

But, yeah, I don't mind the concept of socialism at all; it certainly seems to work well in certain countries.

The word carries a huge negative connotation in the U.S., though, which is too bad.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:00

There's Soviet Socialism which really didn't work at all and then there's Scandinavian Socialism that works really well. I really wouldn't mind it if it was the well working Scandinavian style and not the weird Marxist/Leninist Commusocialism thing that was the Soviet Union,

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:00

The U.S. oil industry is booming .

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:03

17C/63F is about the extent of their summers apparently. It's T-shirt weather at least.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:04

Thanks, there's something I've never seen because our media rarely reports stuff like that. Nice to know we're producing a lot of oil now.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 01:05

Yeah, Upstate NY peaks around 85-90F in the summer in late August. Usually we're around 75-80 all summer.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:05

Communism does a horrible job of acknowledging the individual.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:06

It really depends on which media you watch, which is, I think, one of the biggest problems with our country right now.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:08

Yes, it does. Are you in the U.S. or are you Canadian? I assume US from your prior comment,

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:11

I've kind of stopped because I really don't need the bias. I usually don't watch the business channels because I either don't feel like it/ watching something else. Most of the mainstream media covers ISIS and what Obama is doing. Yes the issues need reporting but how about reporting on the positives within our country and not just the negative.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:11

U.S. (Illinois)

Speaking of Illinois, socialism =/= blowing all your cash on dumb programs and taxing the hell out of your citizens to make up for it.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:13

closer to 105F here :P really sucks the power out of my turbo.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:13

Which isn't the kind of socialism I'd want to live in. Although living in NY I kind of do. It's probably not as bad but we still have some stupid stuff happening and some of the highest taxes in the Union.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 01:14

Damn, what's your winter around now?

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:15

I like Reddit's /r/news , and /r/worldnews . Also, /r/upliftingnews exists.

Reddit can be really cool when it's not too busy being weird, haha.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:18

Neat, bookmarked them all.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:20

Yeah, I don't mind taxes if they're done right.

But growing up in the US, then moving to Scandanavia and watching your tax rates jump 20% would be frightening, haha.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:23

Yeah, if you could get a good paying job it might not be though haha. I'm of Norwegian descent so it's something I've wanted to do is either visit or live for a couple years. Just to see my ancestral home.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:27

I'd love to visit the place. It's incredibly beautiful.

You know, I should just tour Europe to visit my ancestral homes...

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:28

I want to go all over Europe, it would be a while until I could afford it unless I could get a job in Europe and travel around then.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:31

it was -7.8C the other night. Which is about 19F. July is normally gets to about 10C/50F during the day.

It's starting to warm up though so it's currently 17C/62F

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:32

I've never been. I might try to study abroad over winter break, though, so that might change soon.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 01:34

That's nice, my winter is usually around 10-30F with February being coldest.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:35

I wanna study abroad once I'm in college. One of my graduation requirements makes foreign exchange kind of hard sadly.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:37

I'd suggest doing it over the summer (or spring or winter, if your future school offers that).

I've heard of people having issues coordinating credits and whatnot if they stay abroad for a full semester.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:39

Where would you go if you were to go abroad?

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:41

yeah it's not too bad. It's one of the coldest parts of Australia and you can still get by with a good jumper and warm socks.. though I see people rugged up like they're going to Antarctica. I guess they're probably the same people who are totally fine with 40C weather while I'm sweatier than a glass blower's arse crack.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
08/29/2014 at 01:42

I hate those people. 50F and up is T-shirt weather, stop wearing your winter coat, hat and mittens/

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:45

I'm looking at Istanbul or Germany (Berlin most likely, there's also a Munich one I believe).

I've been taking Deutsch to fulfill foreign language requirements, but Istanbul is extremely interesting and I'm in love with the history of it. Pretty much everyone gets scholarships for these things, so cost is not an issue.

I have like three weeks to decide.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 01:48

Out of those, I'd take Germany, but that's me.
I wish I could find a school that's reasonably priced that has Norwegian as a language but that's a hard find. I'd like to look at Scandinavian Studies. Not as a major but as a possible minor.

I'd probably go to either Norway, England, or Germany.

Wanting to be an Engineer makes things somewhat complicated,

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 01:57

The U of I (my school) has a Germanic languages dept. which includes several Scandinavian languages.

I'm taking a class right now which covers various indigenous arctic peoples, but it focuses on the Sami of northern Scandinavia. The prof. leads excursions to northern Sweden/Norway every year for the people who actually major in Scandinavian studies or whatnot.

Out of school tuition is off the planet though, so you better make perfect grades or get your parents into the money laundering business.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 02:03

Yeah, that's a Big 10 or Big 12 school isn't it so it's like $40,000+? My dads, where I currently am, is like 5 minutes from SU (Syracuse) campus and it's like $60,000 a year. I wanted to go there until I saw the costs/

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 02:09

Wait, is that for in state? If so, that's crazy.

Even for out of state, that's crazy.

Our international students pay about that, if you include all the fees + room & board.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 02:14

Well Tuition is $40,000 after everything else it's $60,000. Even if I didn't live on campus it'd be around $46,000 a year.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 02:26

What would your major be? That can certainly play a role

At UIUC for example, engineers pay more than other departments, and within individual colleges, certain majors can get totally raped. For example, I pay like five grand less per year than a Chem major, even though we're both in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 13:24

Mechanical Engineering. I haven't fully looked into how much it is aside from really expensive.

Leadbull > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/29/2014 at 13:41

Just looked it up.

Was not aware that Syracuse is a private institution.

That explains it, lol.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Leadbull
08/29/2014 at 13:48

Yep. Its also one of the better schools in the Northeast. Its a nice looking school too.