Steve,
The country of Norway has a 60% (aprox.)overall tax. This includes as of two years ago a 23% national sales tax. Their gas is a little over $6.00 a gallon. Yes their medical is free and so is the dental, but at what cost. I admire them because it works for them. The country of Norway is about the same size as Montana. It would be hard to compare them to the entire United States. Even the EU has not attempted to standardize its members. They had a battle just getting to a common currency. We may not be perfect but we are free to choose and to vote on a regular basis.
Takk,
Ron