Some of you may not be that tight financially, but there still needs to be a stand against gas prices. There is no excuse for it to already be at $3 and summer isn't even here yet. Oil barrel prices are $10 less now than they were when prices broke the record before. So more oil wells being drilled is not the issue. Currently there are no natural disasters, no Katrina, no oil platforms in the Gulf down and other than the situation with Iran no International issues currently affecting oil prices. At this rate we will be paying over $4 dollars by the end of the summer, that would be without any other crisis's. Lets hope that people don't forget this time when prices go down slightly over the winter. Winter prices were still at record highs. Write your congressman. Make them do something about it. The oil industry will bleed you dry if you let them. There are also many more long-term consequences if we allow them to continue their campaign of misinformation.
I received this e-mail;
> > Don't pump gas on May 15th
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > NO GAS ... On May 15th 2007
> > > > Body: Don't pump gas on May 15th.
> > > >
> > > > In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest
> > > >of gas
> > > >prices. It was most effective and gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a
> > > >gallon
> > > >overnight.
> > > >
> > > > On May 15th 2007, encourage all your friends and families not go to a
> > > >gas
> > > >station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon
> > > >in most
> > > >places.
> > > >
> > > > There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the Internet, and
> > > >the
> > > >average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.
> > > >
> > > > If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
> > > >$2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companies'
> > > >pockets in
> > > >just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and
> > > >lets try to
> > > >make ourselves heard by the industry for at least one day.
> > > >
> > > > If you agree send this to your entire contact list with it saying,
> > > >''Don't
> > > >pump gas on May 15th". It will work for sure.
I say why not just May 15th? MAKE IT A MONTHLY GAS OUT ON THE 15TH OF EVERY MONTHM until they get the message. How hard would it be to remember to buy your gas earlier or later in the week. Just remember not to buy gas on any 15th day of any month. Tell them the only way they will hear, with money.
What excuse does the oil industry have and what gives them justification in stealing the middle classes hard earned money. They will say it is up to us, drive less it is all economics, supply and demand. For those of you who like to try and stay blind to it all guess what because most younger generations can't afford homes now or the cost of living in a city, they have to live farther out. Public transportation in this country isn't really an option. Sure a few cities like Chicago and New York are exceptions but most don't have a reliable, 24 hour consistent system in place.
The same industry did away with the trolleys, passenger trains, pushed us and spent the money on marketing with the Former Big 3 automobile manufactures to get consumers to buy bigger and more expensive gas guzzlers. They pushed the Hummer(tank) over an electric car or any other one for that matter because it had the highest return on investment. Look at the Big Three now, 2 are basically bankrupt, and Toyota has passed Ford and is right on GM's heels to become the biggest automobile manufacturer in the world. The answer to why is pretty simple yet they don't want to accept it. Now they are almost past the point of no return. They once provided one of the great avenues for higher earning potential and a contributed a large part to the National GDP. Now more is coming from foreign investments than anything else. Sure the unions played there part but theres was only a minor one in comparison. The mandate created back in the 80's to raise fuel economy to 23 gallons per mile and decrease dependency on foreign oil has all been tragically reversed and in over 20 years no one thought it my be smart or good to raise mileage above the lower 20's. Well Toyota did.
Big Oil was who bought up and dismantled the trolley systems, electric cars (only vehicle completely destroyed) and shelved a variety of patents capable of creating efficient renewable energy resources. For the electric car they said there was no demand, that is total bull. I work in Marketing and understand that even with the greatest new inventions a substantial amount of money must be spent to first create awareness, second demand. They did as little as possible to promote it. Who can blame them, they don't make money on the trillions of barrels of oil still left or the replacement parts. In buying up patents like the NIMH batteries and hundreds of other patents which have been shelved, they keep us under their control. A lot of the disinformation, sugarcoating, and even outright fabrication in the media, corporate America, politics, scientific research, who gets the best grants, etc. all goes right back to them. They are pushing Hydrogen fuel technology even though it is at least 10 years out, will require a complete overhaul of the fuel pumping infrastructure and still requires refinement. To top it all off it for fuel efficiency it doesn't even come close to that of a Toyota Prius with an electrical conversion kit. We are talking 140 miles per gallon. IT IS NO WONDER THEY ARE PUSHING AND FUNDING IT AS THE NEXT GREAT TECHNOLOGY!
There also hasn't been any new refineries built in the U.S. in the last 20 years. Even though that shouldn't be the way we go, what legitimate excuse do they have when they have been making ALL-TIME record profits the last few years. 50 plus Billion a fiscal quarter. That is our money people. They couldn't build more refiners or increase output. I find that very hard to believe. Don't let them use the excuse because of the EPA requirements in changing the chemical makeup of Diesel or other fuels fool you. They are just bitter about being forced to make their fuel more environmentally friendly. The technology already exists to make us completely independent of them but they fight their hardest to keep it from us. I know from my perpetual motion research and all the patents I run across that they control either directly or through a front company. Electromagnetism crossed with gravity, modern solar panel technology with efficiency at 40%, thermoelectronics, and energy storage, all of them are really already good enough to that each and everyone of us could bi-pass them all together. We don't have to pay utility bills every month, but obviously those in charge don't want to loose those monthly payments. They will stop at nothing to discourage us, lie and keep us from being able to effectively use and afford the better resources.
You have the power to make a stand. This is a simple way to speak out loud and clear to them.
Jack
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Jack,You obviously don't un
May 7, 2007 - 22:02 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveJack,
You obviously don't understand the concepts of supply and demand. Every Spring gas prices go up. Why? Because people start taking road trips or go on the proverbial "Sunday afternoon drive" more often than in the previous 6 months. Because there is an increased demand and re-supply takes time, prices go up. Also, before you even ask "if they know there is going to be an increased demand, why don't they stock up for it?" all gas Stations have a finite storage capacity that is filled on an as needed basis usually every couple of days depending on how busy they are. If service stations around the country have an increased demand, then it follows that more deliveries of gasoline will be needed at those stations. Trucks and drivers cost money. More deliveries mean more trucks and more drivers need to be operating and paid. The additional operations increase the price you pay at the pump.
You can boycott or "take a stand" all you want...you aren't going to hurt the oil companies. If you want to take a stand against high gas prices the first place I would go and "take a stand" is your wonderful legislators/congressmen. Ask them why the government makes over 4 times (on average) to more than 6 times (combined state and federal taxes) the amount on a gallon of gasoline than the oil companies take in profits. The next question is to ask them why we aren't drilling in ANWR and other places that have proven reserves. The last question should be why haven't we built the requisite refineries to keep up with increased demand?
This isn't a problem the oil companies created or perpetuate, high gasoline prices are a direct result of our law makers pandering to the environmental lobby and using gasoline sales as a "windfall" tax revenue machine to fund their idealist programs.
BTW, the email you posted goes around a couple of times a year (I know I've seen it several years in a row now) either it still hasn't gotten through to the oil companies or not enough people care enough to put forth the effort. Or it could even be millions of people did do it, but it hardly makes a difference to the oil companies. You'll eventually buy gasoline again. If you don't do it on May 15th, you'll do it on the 16th or a day or two later. Furthermore, the supposedly nearly $3 billion "taken out of the oil companies' pockets" is assuming that 73,000,000 people completely fill up their cars on a single day and that the entire price paid at the pump is oil company profit. However, oil companies only make around $0.09-0.11 per gallon (see link above)...so the figure would be more like $7,300,000 (which is a mere 0.025% of the quoted nearly $3 Billion) if and only if everyone completely filled up their cars on a single day. I don't know about most people but, I only fill up about once every 10-12 days, and at just shy of $3.00 a gallon, it still costs me less than $30 to fill up. Don't you research emails before you forward (or post) them?
"Believe what you want. You work your side of the street, and I'll work mine." --Frank Bullitt
School of Economics
May 8, 2007 - 12:55 ET by deceptionreportI supposedly don't understand Economics so my agreement with a mainstream idea is no good... huh? What a lame way to try and discredit a Gas Out on May 15th.
Who do you think you are? Don't stand so high on a horse insulting someone based on something that is in constant motion. Who made you the master of Economics? The "concepts of supply and demand" are spun and interpreted in many different ways. Most of the time depending on which political party is in control at any given time. So just because your understaning of Economics is different than mine doesn't necessarily mean I or anyone else who reads between the lines is incorrect. Most successful economic policies, and they can vary dramatically are the ones allowed many years to pan out. The whole issue on trade with China hasn't panned out yet and when it does it is really going to comeback to bite or children in the !@#%*.
Sure resupply takes time, a long time ago I worked as a gas station clerk but it doesn't take nearly as long as your indicating. I also have a cousin in Houston Texas who worked for Exxon as a refinery construction consultant (refineries built in Brazil, Yugoslavia, not the U.S.) He is a chemical engineer and also understands the real costs in the EPA regulations put upon them. It didn't cost them anywhere near as much as they say it did. Oil companies also understand the peaks and valleys. If they truly weren't out completely for themselves they wouldn't be manipulating the supply so much. YES MANIPULATING. They have plenty of time in the fall and winter to increase inventories. Maybe that is another regulation they should be forced to adhere to since they obviously won't do it on their own. I have heard more about the innerworkings of Conoco and Exxon than most. I can tell you they are definitely not out for the good of the consumer. There is a whole other issue with how they treat their own employees as well.
"take a stand" all you want...you aren't going to hurt the oil companies. Not true maybe not to the extent most would want at least. If it were to get more mainstream media exposure and a significant number of people did it not just online because there is also word of mouth it would send a message that people are more cynical and no longer eating all that they are being fed. You are taking the figures presented in the e-mail too literally. There are many more than just the oil companies that the message would be made to, i.e. congress, automobile manufactures, potential financers for grants on real renewable energy resources, etc.
As far as these comments you make, "Ask them why the government makes over 4 times (on average) to more than 6 times (combined state and federal taxes) the amount on a gallon of gasoline than the oil companies take in profits. The next question is to ask them why we aren't drilling in ANWR and other places that have proven reserves. The last question should be why haven't we built the requisite refineries to keep up with increased demand?"
I addressed them all in my article, I say contact your congressman, I agree with you state and federal taxes on gas is too high even though in most states it is were the majority of income for new roads, bridges, maintenance, infrastructure, etc. comes from, It is strictly regulated for those things. I also clearly state drilling for more oil at this time is not the issue since AGAIN the price per barrell is $10 less now than it was when we were at this record price before. The only issue it addresses is the risk of more environmental damage and a minor reduction in are dependency on foreign oil. More refineries? I dedicated my whole last paragraph to that. I mean come on read what I write before you try to debate what I wrote. You just discredit yourself by regurgitating in a cynical way what I already wrote.
What are you talking about with this, "windfall" tax? There isn't one yet. I believe there should be for accountability especially for those driving the direction of our economy. If you think there shouldn't be corporate accountability, well then wake up. You missed all the corporate frauds and bankrupcies tax payers paid for that have occured in the last few years. They did affect us all, some more than others. There needs to be an independent authority (if that's possible) giving some direction to appropriate reinvestment, R&D, other renewable energy, god help me for saying it, new U.S. refineries, lower cost, viable overhaul to the gasoline infrastructure because in the end who is going to be paying for it? The tax payer. A lot of these companies have already proven they can't be ethical on their own. Who in their right mind trust corporations these days, I mean the way they treat employees as slaves not assests anymore, i.e work 30 years and get let go right before you can collect full benefits and retirement. Get replaced with a less experienced college kid because it costs less. Almost everyone knows someone now that had that happen to them. Or they have been retired and like some of the airlines they take your pension from you after the fact. Too many executives would rather pay a small number of lobbyists, politicians, a large amount percentage of profits instead of doing what's right and reward their people and employees who got them there in the first place. Even worse is when they just move operations overseas, avoiding taxes and having to pay more to their own people.
Now about this e-mail I included. The comments you made act like I don't realize it has been going around for years, well duh it even makes reference to 1997. Sometimes timing is not right and the manner in which something is circulated is not the most effective. Just because and idea doesn't work the first time doesn't mean it won't work the second or third. Let's hope your not a doctor, scientist, philospher or an artist because with that attitude half the luxuries and inventions we have today wouldn't exist.
The population patterns of drivers haven't changed enough to be a factor in demand if anything it has gone down since then. Maybe people are traveling more, like to work (which I give one clear reason as to why, AFFORDABILITY) but if you look at ALL indicators prices still don't add up. Most people realize gas prices goes up in the spring down in the fall. I even made a point regarding this, ("lets hope they don't forget this time when it goes down slightly in the Winter") In comparison to prior years, prices have gone up above and beyond inflation in all times of the year, whether it is Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter they are still much higher than they should be.
Blame the the environmental lobby soley, yeah you are really informed.
The idea of not buying gas on 1 day is about sending a clear message not reducing the amount of gas you buy. Talk about misinterpretation. I mean even a 5 year old knows your still going to have to buy gas when the empty light comes on. If enough people do it in 1 day the point is they will SEND A MESSAGE, they also would disrupt the supply and demand for that 1 day to a degree which would be noticed. Just throwing them of their daily calculations and projections would cause them to loose money, not like the e-mail states but they would loose money.
Jack
1 day will not send any messa
May 8, 2007 - 15:56 ET by Conservative Voice1 day will not send any message. But my communist friend, where is your anger to the government's profits from oil? They get more of the pie without any risk or sacrifice, all the while demand from the oil companies standards and practices, many of which do nothing but make it harder to do business.
You are embarressing yourself with your economic understanding. Sure there are corrupt business persons, but it is much easier to take out a corrupt business person than anyone in the government. Capitalism works. If you want to send a message, then don't buy any gas...or use less of it. Fact is, gas is pretty cheap when you consider how much goes into getting it to the station. One company can't effect the price, only to be undersold from a competitor. Milk is more expensive, yet takes less effort to get to your friendly neighborhood grocery store than gas.
Want to send a message? Get government to lower their taxes and get rid of red tape and allow for more exploration. The oil companies aren't the problem, its the government.
Since you didn't read the link...
May 8, 2007 - 21:58 ET by Mean Gene Dr. Love"I supposedly don't understand Economics so my agreement with a
mainstream idea is no good... huh?
Yes! I provided you with a logic based argument as to why it was a stupid (and hardly "mainstream") idea. If you would take a step back from your position and try to see the big picture, the reasons it is a stupid idea should begin to become apparent. Since you chose the emotional approach rather than the logical, I will once again present you with more reasons why it is a stupid idea. (BTW, anytime you get an email that tells you to forward it to as many people as you can should tip you off that it is not legit.)
I was going to give you an economics lesson about the gasoline market, FIFO inventories, the effects of increased resupply operations, and corporate accountability to their shareholders but, seeing that I am just a lowly aircraft mechanic with a limited knowledge of accounting with a good grasp on cause-effect relationships, it would've been too humiliating for you to take, and many people here would never let you live it down. So, since I am not a credentialed expert on economics here is this from the internet, it should be easy enough for you to understand. If after reading this you still think it's a good idea and that the "Gas Out" really can work, all I have to say is: Stupid is as stupid does! (H/T Forrest Gump's mother)
From: http://www.snopes.co...
[Collected on the Internet, 2007]DO NOT PUMP GAS ON MAY 15TH...
On May 15th all myspace members are to not go to the gas station in protest high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places. There are 72,110,073 members currently on the network, and the average car takes about 20 to 30 dollars to fill up. If all myspace members did not go to the pump on the 15th it would take $2,163,302,190.00 out of the oil companys pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the oil industry for at least one day.
If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt) repost this bulletin repost it with "Don't pump gas on May 15th, 2007"
[Collected on the Internet, 2006]
No Gas on May 15th
On May 15th all myspace members are to not go to the gas station in protest high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places. There are 72,110,073 members currently on the network, and the average car takes about 20 to 30 dollars to fill up. If all myspace members did not go to the pump on the 15th it would take $2,163,302,190.00 out of the oil companys pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the oil industry for at least one day..
[Collected on the Internet, 2005]
IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES.THEREFORE SEPTEMBER 1st HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND" DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THESE TWO NATIONS SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE THAT DAY.THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT. WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO? REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE SEPTEMBER 1ST A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"
[Collected on the Internet, 2004]
IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES. THEREFORE MAY 19TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT. WAITING ON THIS ADMIINSTRATION TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO? REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE MAY 19TH A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR BEHINDS DAY" AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE THAT DAY.
[Collected on the Internet, 2000]
Last year on April 30, 1999, a gas out was staged across Canada and the U.S. to bring the price of gas down, and it worked. It's time to do something about it again. Only this time lets make it for three days instead of just one. The so-called oil cartel decided to slow production to drive up gasoline prices. Lets see how many Canadian\American people we can get to ban together for a three day period in April, NOT TO BUY ANY GASOLINE, during those three days. LET'S HAVE A GAS OUT. Do not buy any gasoline from APRIL 7, 2000, THROUGH APRIL 9, 2000. Buy what you need before the dates listed above, or after, but try not to buy any during the GAS OUT. If you want to help, just send this to everyone you know and ask them to do the same. We brought the prices down once before, and we can do it again. Come on North America lets stand together. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Even if you receive this 100 times keep passing it around, this way you know everyone is being informed and no one will forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Origins: The above-quoted pieces advocating one-day gasoline boycotts are proof that some bad ideas never go away; they just keep getting recycled year after year.
This year's e-mails (proposing a one-day "gas out" in May 2007) is yet another recasting of similar messages that have been circulating since 1999. All of them are reminders that "protest" schemes that don't cost the participants any inconvenience, hardship, or money remain the most popular, despite their ineffectiveness. A one-day "gas out" was proposed in 1999, and a three-day-long event was called for in 2000, but both drew little active participation and had no real effect on retail gasoline prices.
The recycling of the same campaign in subsequent years hasn't drawn enough interest to even be considered newsworthy.
The premise behind all these messages is inherently flawed, because consumers' not buying gasoline on one particular day doesn't affect oil companies at all. The "gas out" scheme doesn't call upon people to use less gasoline, but simply to shift their date of purchase and buy gas a day earlier or later than they usually would The very same amount of gasoline is sold either way, so oil companies don't lose any money.
By definition, a boycott involves the doing without of something, with the renunciation of the boycotted product held up as tangible proof to those who supply the commodity that consumers are prepared to do without it unless changes are made. What the "gas out" calls for isn't consumers' swearing off using or buying gasoline, even for a short time, but simply shifting their purchases by a couple of days at most. Because the "gas out" doesn't call on consumers to make a sacrifice by actually giving up something, the threat it poses is a hollow one.
Not buying gas on a designated day may make people feel a bit better about things by providing them a chance to vent their anger at higher gasoline prices, but the action won't have any real impact on retail prices. An effective protest would involve something like organizing people to forswear the use of their cars on specified days, an act that could effectively demonstrate the reality of the threat that if gasoline prices stayed high, American consumers were prepared to move to carpooling and public transportation for the long term. Simply changing the day one buys gas, however, imparts no such threat, because nothing is being done without.
Moreover, the primary potential effect of the type of boycott proposed in the "gas out" messages is to hurt those at the very end of the oil-to-gasoline chain: the independent service station operators, who have the least say in setting gasoline prices. (Independents are at the mercy of a very volatile oil market and operate on thin profit margins, and even a single day's disruption of supply or demand can wipe out many days' worth of hard-earned profits.) As such, the "gas out" is a punch on the nose delivered to the wrong person.
Either apathy or an outbreak of common sense has made previous "gas outs" non-events with very low levels of participation, as documented by these snippets of news accounts from across North America:
--Friday's gasoline boycott was an effort that sputtered, coughed, then died. Motorists continued to fill up gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and trucks alongside smaller vehicles despite a one-day protest aimed to pressure oil companies to lower gas prices.
--Although a gasoline boycott that began as an electronic mail campaign kept some drivers nationwide away from the pump, dealers say they saw little, if any, effect on their traffic.
--In Seattle, there were so many cars waiting to get into [a] Texaco station ... yesterday afternoon that it caused a backup five cars deep into [the] right-hand lane.
--Reports indicated few motorists paid attention to a nationwide boycott touted initially by Internet e-mail and later by word of mouth.
--A planned nationwide boycott protesting the high price of gasoline didn't have much effect on local gas stations.
--"We were expecting something substantial," said Mark Johnson, the owner of a Chevron station. "We haven't really noticed much of a difference."
--Irving stations in sunny Halifax said the boycott had no effect on business.
--"It's been busy as a bugger here," said Bruce Riley, manager of one station. "We haven't been busier in the last two weeks," added the manager at another Halifax outlet.
--Gas stations [in Ottawa] reported "busier than ever" conditions at the pumps on the day of The Great Internet Gas-Out. Gasoline is a fungible, global commodity, its price subject to the ordinary forces of supply and demand. No amount of consumer gimmickry and showmanship will lower its price in the long run; only a significant, ongoing reduction in demand will accomplish that goal. Unfortunately, for many people achieving that goal would mean cutting down on their driving or opting for less desirable economy cars over less fuel-efficient models, solutions they find unappealing.
An event like a "gas out" can sometimes do some good by calling attention to a cause and sending a message. In this case, though, the only message being sent is: "We consumers are so desperate for gasoline that we can't even do without it for a few days to demonstrate our dissatisfaction with its cost." What supplier is going to respond to a message like that by lowering its prices? Those who really want to send a "message" to oil suppliers should try not buying any gasoline for several months in a row.
"Believe what you want. You work your side of the street, and I'll work mine." --Frank Bullitt
Supply & Demand Now
May 10, 2007 - 10:24 ET by deceptionreportCurrently;
Supply = Oil, gasoline Demand = Consumers buying fuel
SUPPLY: Right now AGAIN for the 3rd time, Oil supply isn't the problem. IT IS $10 LESS PER BARREL THAN IT WAS LAST TIME WE WERE AT THIS PRICE. So spending more on oil exploration may get us off the foreign oil dependency, but AGAIN it is not the main problem NOW with $3 plus per gallon fuel.
DEMAND: Just as you said earlier and most people are well aware that Demand runs on a predictable cycle. THAT CYCLE ANYTIME OF THE YEAR IS HIGHER THAN EVER. Those who refine the oil into fuel are also very well aware of the cycle and like most Manufactures they should accomodate it. Meaning refine more fuel in the off-season.
(and hardly "mainstream") idea. You just proved it was by pasting several prior, Gas PROTEST e-mails. (There is a difference in definition from "BOYCOTT," to PROTEST). People don't have to forward anything and those who do are usually in some kind of agreement with what they are forwarding. There is probably hardly anyone who didn't receive it. AGAIN your not making any sense or any point by pasting those e-mails. I didn't dispute the fact they have been going around for a while. I disputed that the time, place and manner in which something is circulated isn't always right. The fact that they are still being circulated in an increased fashion says there is a lot of people on the same page. Which translates to MAINSTREAM.
I'm sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not the one humiliating myself.
Sending a message in a way is like voting. Many people feel it is a waste of time to vote because of arguments people like you make. Even if the populous elects someone different than the individual put in power, i.e. 2000 they are still sending a loud message and that person especially an intelligent one would treads more lightly with that on their back. As a group people can correctly say, "Fool me once shame on you, Fool my twice shame on me." Since your so into quotes
This e-mail CIRCULATING FOR A WHILE, would be a better idea but it has it's downfall as well. In some places the ratio of Exxon owned gas stations is 3-4 and if everyone stopped buying gas from them then the other stations would have extremely long lines and most people don't have the patience to wait or just don't have the time to spare.
>Hey There...Most of these hair brained ideas aren't worth a crap and
you
>know I don't ever send these type of letters/spam, but if we do this
long
>enough (enough to burn off their cash reserves from the last few
years) we
>may actually get somewhere.
>I'm not buying from 76, shell, EXXON Mobil or chevron and saving my
$$$
>for
>the Rotten Robies of the world. Sure my fuel filter will hate me, but
if it
>get's the price of gas down a bit its totally worth it.
>
>That and expanding our refining capacity and domestic oil reserves are
>crucial. More oil on the market = lower prices...Send a not to your
>representatives in Wash. and tell them to pull their thumb out of it
and
>take our interests and not the "environmental whack jobs" seriously!!
>Thanks,
>-Kent
>
> >GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
> >
> >This was originally sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came
from
> >one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. It ' s
worth
> >your consideration.
> >
> >Join the resistance!!!! I hear we are going to hit close to $4.00 a
> >gallon by next summer and it might go higher!! Want gasoline prices
to
> >come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. Phillip
> >Hollsworth offered this good idea.
> >
> >This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day"
> >campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies
just
> >laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt"
> >ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to
us
> >than it was a problem for them.
> >
> >BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can
> >really work. Please read on and join wi th us! By now you're
probably
> >thinking gasoline priced at about $1.50 is super cheap. Me too! It
is
> >currently $ 3.14 for regular unleaded in my town. Now that the oil
> >companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the
> >cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50 - $1.75, we need to take
> >aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the
marketplace.....
> >not sellers. With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we
> >consumers need to take action. The only way we are going to see the
> >price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not
> >purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves.
> >How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas.
But
> >we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force
a
> >price war.
> >
> >Here's the idea:
> >
> >For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two
> >biggest companies (which now are o n e), EXXON and MOBIL. If they
are
> >not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices.
If
> >they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow
suit.
> >
> >But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon
and
> >Mobil gas buyers. It's really simple to do! Now, don't wimp out at
this
> >point.... keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach
> >millions of people.
> >
> >I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us sends it to at
least
> >ten more (30 x 10 =3D 300) ... and those 300 send it to at least ten
> >more (300 x 10 =3D 3,000)...and so on, by the time the message
reaches
> >the sixth group of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION
> >consumers. I f those three million get excited and pass this on to
ten
> >friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it
> >goes one level further, you guessed it..... THREE
> > >>>>HUNDRED MILLION >>>>PEOPLE!!!
> >
> >Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all. (If
you
> >don't understand how we can reach 300 million and all you have to do
is
> >send this to 10 people.... Well, let's face it, you just aren't a
> >mathematician. But I am, so trust me on this one.)
> >
> >How long would all that take? If each of us sends this e-mail out to
ten
> >more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could
> >conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!!
> >
> >I'll bet you didn't think you and I
> >
> > had that much potential, did you?
> >
> > Acting together we can make a difference. If this makes
> >sense to you, please pass this message on. I suggest that we not buy
> >from EXXON/MOBIL UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE $1.30 RANGE
AND
> >KEEP THEM DOWN.
> >
> > THIS CAN REALLY WORK.
I am happy to report that I f
May 16, 2007 - 05:24 ET by UnsaneI am happy to report that I filled up for $2.83 on 15 May! Woo-hoo!
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)