At the last fill up of my E300D, diesel was 108.9 pence per litre.

I'm sorry, but there are a couple of beastly conversions;

So, that's 108.9 pence per 0.264172051242 US gallons

So, that's $2.16293 0.264172051242 US gallons

or, $8.19 per US gallon.

Here's the UK minimum wage structure; (although, if you're skilled, you're some way above this)

• Workers aged 22 and over - £5.52 per hour
• Workers aged 18-21 - £4.60 per hour
• Workers aged 16-17 - £3.40 per hour

So, before tax, a minimum wage earner can almost afford a gallon of diesel per hour worked.

Don't get me going about tax though! Direct tax accounts for about 30% of our money, while indirect taxes, like sales taxes take about the same again. We do have a National Health Service (if hospital acquired infections are your thing!), but apart from building the odd road, they tend to waste the rest of it!