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> Big surprise, in a state where you're not even allowed to pump your own gas.

I'm afraid I don't understand this bit (being European and all). Are you saying that not only there are attendants, but that you are forbidden from using the pump if an attendant is not available?

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Yes. Oregon and New Jersey both forbid consumers from pumping their own gas. If an attendant is not available, you still may not pump your own gas.

This is surreal. In western Europe, you'll find somebody manning a shop next to the pumps, if there is one, and you may have to pay for gas inside the shop, but most pumps take credit cards. I think any lawmaker suggesting that an attendant be made mandatory would be cause for much hilarity. I understand that this is a way for the state to provide jobs artificially, but it's definitely a different way of operating.

> This is surreal.

Sure, but we still end up paying less for gas than our neighbors.

Don't get me wrong, if it were up to me, this would be gone in a heartbeat ... but it's not the end of the world.

That's correct.

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