(Updated) A "new" forwarded email for 2007 urges Americans to refrain from buying gasoline on May 15th to pressure oil companies into lowering fuel prices. Sound familiar? This year's gas boycott email is almost identical to chain letters circulating last year, the year before that, and the year before that. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it didn't work then, and it won't work now. Here's why.
Poll: Will you be boycotting your local gas station this May 15th?
1) Yes 2) No 3) I don't know
News and Views:
• Gas Boycott Called for May 15 - CBS News
• Experts: Gas Boycott Won't Lower Prices - Charlotte Observer
• One-Day Gas Boycott More Symbolic than Effective - Statesman Journal
• Why One-Day Gas Boycott Won't Work - MSNBC
• Gas Boycott Unlikely to 'Make Dent' in Oil Profits - News Courier
• 'Gas Out' Wouldn't Work, Expert Says - NBC 5
Poll: Will you be boycotting your local gas station this May 15th?
1) Yes 2) No 3) I don't know
News and Views:
• Gas Boycott Called for May 15 - CBS News
• Experts: Gas Boycott Won't Lower Prices - Charlotte Observer
• One-Day Gas Boycott More Symbolic than Effective - Statesman Journal
• Why One-Day Gas Boycott Won't Work - MSNBC
• Gas Boycott Unlikely to 'Make Dent' in Oil Profits - News Courier
• 'Gas Out' Wouldn't Work, Expert Says - NBC 5
Comments
I love how stupid people think one day is going to affect a single thing. Thats like shooting a bullet at a tank. Throwing a rock at an airplane. Spitting on the sun. Jumping into an olympic pool that a 4 year old just peed in and expecting to swim in piss. running the first few hundred feet of a marathon. climbing 4 steps at the empire state building and calling it a day. how about not buying gas on weekdays? one day out of 365, and thats the best you come up with???
The one day boycott has about as much effect on an oil company’s profit as a teenager dying in a car wreck and never buying gas again.
stupid people
How about trying a different approach on this boycott. Let’s all pick the 2 or 3 largest oil companies and refuse to buy gas from them at all everyday,(to include the oil products they sell in parts stores)! Exxon and Mobile seem to be the obvious choices since they keep reporting the monster profits and contend they are not gouging the american public.
I have aleardy started my boycott of Exxon, Mobile and Shell and I still am able to easily find a place to fill up. Please join this boycott and send a message to the oversized oil companies and their wallets!!!
Talk is cheap; do something!
Join the cause that will make a difference, but it can’t succeed without your help. Go to http://www.bobcooks.com and
click on the gas girlcott or gas boycott link. Forget nucular, oil, gas and coal – now is the time for alternative energy, with wind, solar and geothermal
leading the way. The earth will be happier and we can live with that.
Isn’t it about time canadians take our country back from big business and polictical over expenditure. I’m dissappointed to see the negativity and defeatest attitudes on this web page. Shouldn’t we try to come together for our common good, whether its for one day or more. Any boycott attempt would let these executives see that we have had enough and are going to start fighting back. We need to collectively send a message to them , strong and decisive. If I may suggest , we should boycott gas stations for one week blocks starting with our countries own gas company.
I was thinking that perhaps a small town like I live in. 30 thousand population should boycott all gas stations for one day per week, buying only gas outside of our county.
yeah, great idea corey. buy from someone like say, Hugo Chavez’s Citgo instead. Stick it to American-owned companies hiring American workers, let’s support totalitarian-leaning dictators!!@!@!!@!
#8 – John, I’m with you. If you want to boycott gas so badly, boycott Citgo which is owned by Hugo Chavez, the mini-me dictator of Venezuela. That will teach him a lesson.
I already use as little gas as possible, I write my congressmen, I do what I can – and if there’s the slightest, most remote chance that anyone would ever notice that I didn’t buy gas on May 15, it’s surely the easiest way for us to try to make a statement. However going without buying gas for a week straight would be a bigger statement, certainly for those of us who can’t manage without cars and can’t afford a new hybrid.
Lol its so funny to see you ppl come up with dumb ways to tackle big corps. ONE DAY OIL STRIKE and you wonder why this country is run buy the wealthy Tycoons. Listen ppl the answer to you problem is simple. If everyone in AMERICA TAKES ALL THERE MONEY AND REFUSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH IT, REFUSE TO BARTER WITH IT, REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT AS LEGAL TENDER, THIS GOVT WON’T HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO OBEY THE PPL THEY WAY THEY WERE INTENDED NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Now i know some will read this and call it crazy and i say to you well shutup and continue to pay $50 bucks at the pump and by the way continue eating mad cow meat renamed ANGUS BEEF and keep taking pills that cause more pain than the cure, and keep ignoring chemtrails in the sky, and keep ignoring how fat this country is getting, and ignore how now toothpaste can give you cancer, and how 911 was an inside job and satan worshippers run this country ignore all this and more JUST GO BACK TO SLEEP!!!!!!
I think people who do this is wasting their time because I really don’t think that the gas people really care about you don’t pumping gas.They are not going to do anything. They are not going to lower prices just because people think that just because they don’t pump gas that day they are going to lower prices. I have to say that,that would be a waste of time for everyone that is going to be doing that.And people who don’t even drive are going to do that I think that is really pointless YOUR NOT DRIVING why should that matter to you.People who are going to do this GET A LIFE!!!!
#11 – Uh, I can see why you are “wide awake and lonely,” honeychild. Maybe because you sound as if you were off your meds. Vicotin, anyone?
Perhaps it’s time to get creative. Surely we can all figure out ways to drive less (public transportation DOES exist in most places). It’s just too time consuming and inconvenient for the EstadoUniDENSE public. We won’t wake up til we’re dead.
in the words of country singer aron tipin:”You’ve got to stand for somethin or you’ll fall for anything.” and these idiots fell for this and they do every year.
Everyone who doesn’t buy on the 15th just make he lines longer on the 16th. I would fill up the day the lines are short…
Why not pick a different oil company per month and boycott that company for an entire month, changing companies each month?
Change your driving habits EVERYDAY, not just one day. Make a permanent change in your lifestyle to reduce consumption and this will get noticed by the big companies.
Your miserable and a very negative person. Why do a person have to be stupid because they have faith. Instead of calling people stupid how about encourging people to come up with a different approach. If we all thought like you then we wouldn’t be able to make a diffence. Your and idiot
That last comment was for Bobby
well, ok we need to do something and i think that boycotting one company for an entire month. sounds perfect. I come unglued every time i see the gas prices going up. I have to drive to work. however, as a small business owner I certainly will search for more jobs in my area. Please lets all do somthing. Lets work it out. Lets all just do one thing.
ok, lets spread the word. everyone knows at least 10 people that drive. This month,oh lets say Exxon. I think they are affiliated with Mobile. please let me know. Ok let’s boycott Exxon, Mobile, from May 5th to june 5th. And just a word of encouragement.Thank-you in advance for whatever inconvienance this may cause you. I for one appreciate your efforts.
Do what I do – join a van pool! Or a car pool or whatever you can do. We’ve calculated that our van pool saves about 30 gallons of gas EVERY WORKDAY.
Why not boycott the useless politicans who keep us dependent on foreign oil?
We could be building more refineries and drilling right here in the US – in addition to conservation (wont happen) and alternative options (might help).
Not buying gas one day is dumb – everyone will tank up on May 16th! Duh.
I think it’s been established that the one day boycott is a bad idea, so let’s move on. Does anyone else feel the one month boycott is a good idea? Any suggestions on how to get the word out? Does anyone know who the different companies are and what names they operate under?
I think u guys are wishful thinkers for the one day boycott. Everyone will just buy more gas than usual the day before or the day after. Wake up retards, try boycotting one particular oil company for the entire month.
thank-you Terence and Blake. I am glad to hear the interest in the one month boycott. Let’s do it!!!! I am so excited to think that we could be a big part of a drop in these gas prices. I would suggest that we start with Mobile from may 5th to june 5th. I also need help in finding out who is affiliated with the company. I am thinking if we don’t fuel up at any station that has the mobile logo, we should be good. anymore ideas, please post
If you think you can make a difference in the Oil market, or if you think you can send the companies a message…are are wrong, and I don’t want to say stupid, maybe just a little slow to say the least. The oil companies already know how you feel, and they don’t really care. No message you can send thier way will have any effect on how they feel either.
Your right G-Money. We should just do nothing.
people will buy gas on 5/14 or 5/16 to make up for not buying it on 5/15 so what is gained? we need gas to drive to work, etc. pressure the people who make the difference – congress/bush etc.
Why not boycott more than one at a time…there are plenty of small gas stations to gas up at. All of those convenient store/gas stations. BP and Exxon/Mobile can suffer at the same time. It would likely only take days not a whole month. If the “Big” guys saw a major drop in sales for 5 or 6 or 7 days in a row, while Americans were still filling up elsewhere, they would have no choice but to drop their prices. But we really have to have a significant amount of people taking part. And like someone else said, Do some homework on which oil companies supply the small stations. This is actually a promising idea. More people should really give it some thought. But then, some people already pay 8 or 10 cents more a gallon right across the street from another station. I can’t believe how many times I see people packing into gas stations with significantly higher prices than across the street or just a block away from a station with lower prices. Some people have too much money to throw away… or they really don’t care.
Blake and G Money r spineless turkeys “yeah lets not do anything!” says Blake and G, lets continue 2 get stepped on by big corporations with money and power. Grow a pair would u and stand up for something 4 once in your lives retards!
Pick one retailer, like 7-11. No one across the contry buys gas from any 7-11. for a week, month, whatever. Once 7-11 see’s their lack of fuel sales is affecting their bottom line profits and hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel in their tanks going stale they may drop their prices to get rid of it. Maybe squeal at the big oil companies and threaten to not buy as much fuel. Gas sales are big, big part of these retail outlet’s profits, 7-ll, Holliday Oil, Chevron, Sinclair. Of course the other retailers would do well until the public targeted them for a month (or whatever). May need to put the squeeze on the middle man (retail sellers)to get to the big man. It could cause problems, gas lines or gas shortages at the other retailers, cause prices at these stations to go up, but at the same time where there’s no sale’s they may drop the price. It would be interesting to find out.
by a nationwide boycott long term of the larger companies it will force their hand eventually.will have to rally together to get cooperation nationwide.
It Not Going To Work If we don’t Start To ACT now! So Please pass this message on! We must Act Together? Can We Count On You? Working Together Will Make a difference! Visit http://www.end2crazygasprice.com for more info.
#35 – Uh, James honey, is English your second language? Or are you simply off your meds? Just a guess.
Becky,
I think that one month boycott is perfect, maybe we can get some help from radio stations or even on tv, so everybody will know about this
You know i remember a long while back ago people flipped out when the gas hit 2.00 per gallon.
Dont you think it would be better to send letters to the white house and your local representatives reguarding implimenting a gas price control. (basically like rent control) so the oil companys cannot jack the prices up to the moon. If you can see by the profits all the gas companys are making each quarter if they were hurting all that bad dont you think the profits would be minor compaired to what they are?.
They dont really understand that “low income” familys who are not really making alot of money and or live in rural communitys and who have to drive to work are really getting hurt in this whole deal. and well even higher income people are getting tagged in this situation as well since taxes, prices of living, multipul cars, and other things to take into spectrum.
I dont belive (1) day will put any type of dent into the major gas companys thats like throwing a tennis ball at a brick wall wont cause much effect.
Another note you need to keep in mind who sells fuel to the gas stations as well. You have gas companys, refinerys and re-sellers (independent gas stations) and well mom-pop stores who gets fuel trucked in by some odd name supplier who buys from a major supplier.
Gas Stations.
1. shell
2. exxon
3. BP
4. Citco (still around?)
5. chevron
6. 7-11 (depending on demographics)
7. piggly wiggly
8. Flying J Truck Stop
9. Truck stops of america
10. conaco
Continue List below for your state or city.
they did this in Scotland for 2 days and they had to reduce the price of gas people did not even go to work the only people that got gas was fireman doctors and ambulance so yes go for it
Pick 1 oil company let the know when and stop buying from them for 3 weeks. Then pick a deffrent company and do the same
Hey guys, ok well we all seem to have an understanding of different solutions to fix the same problem. The one day boycott is a good idea, but it is lacking a few explanations. And notice how everyone in AMERICA is just doing this. Why not get Canada, Mexico, Europe, hell the whole world to join with us. I’m sure their are people somewhere feed up with the same problem here. We all are citizens of one world, lets take care of it the best we can. One person can make a difference, we need everyone’s support ion this. Boycott a gas company for one month. Not only America, but The WORLD. Imagine what damage this would do.
Why not try it!!?? We’ve got nothing to lose. Now let’s just get Bush out of the White house and then maybe we can see some positive changes.
We will never know until May 16th so why not just give it a try? Just 1 day, no negativity about the boycott, just take one step with the trial and error mindset. We’ll learn from the 1 day boycott then maybe try 2? a week? A month? A month boycott from 1 company? write letters to congress? We’ll figure it out but hey, why not just GIVE IT A TRY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS? Learning experience. Spread the word
GAS BOYCOTT MAY 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in this day and age i think it would somewhat be logical to believe that all people bashing on this boycott actually work for the Government! They know the people are inching towards a REVOLUTION so they’re trying to inject false hopes into the vein of change! All this: “Stupid people…” “Heres why it wont work…” “urban legends” “not worth it” ahem…undercovergovernmentagents…ahem cough
keep it real America, trust your inner voice! If Revolution runs through our blood then let it do so freely!
GAS BOYCOTT MAY 15
The one day boycott will not work!!! The only method that will truly work would be if everyone boycotted a specific gas company for a month. For example for the month of June Speedway gets the boycott and no one buys gas at any Speedway location, July BP Amoco gets the boycott, August, Shell gets the boycott, Sept. Marathon, Oct. Citgo and so on…..
I really believe if we put this boycott together correctly and got media attention gas price will plummet. This no gas day will just force more people to the pump the day prior and the day after. You have to start hurting “big oil” like they are hurting us, in the wallet and one at a time. Mark my words it will work!!!!!!
one day isn;t going to get message to the fat cats at the oil co.if your going to send message! go big ! .boycott one copany at a time for week at a time . Differnt one every mounth
try this: stop driving altogether. it has been mentioned above but to make real change happen, you must take drastic action.
think back to the civil rights movement. i know, i know, not nearly the same, but the concept can be carriend over. the montgomery bus boycott Alabama went on for months. the busses were boycotted by riders who believed in civil rights, yet the busses refused to desegregate their seating arrangements. the people in this situation began walking to work everyday instead of riding the busses, miles and miles (i believe i read one story where the woman walked 12 miles each way), and were able to make a real impact in the civil rights movement. the boycott lasted for months! DRASTIC ACTION = BIG CHANGE
One day of not buying gas = no major economic impact. If everyone sacrificed and started walking/biking/bus-riding/train-riding NO MATTER WHAT THE INCONVENIENCE TO YOU PERSONALLY and continued this behavior over a period of say 3 months (a business quarter) then we could have a REAL impact.
Seriously…how many people are going to actually look at this website? How many non-internet users are going to even care about what you guys are trying to do. Your intentions are respected, but are a bit ambitious – almost comedic. People NEED gas, it is not our FIRST priority in this world, okay? WE have families to take care of, and we do whatever we can to get through the day to be with them. It’s so easy to dream up a ‘boycott’, but reality will set in and you’ll realise you need to get through your day.
So move on, roll with the punches – speak to your congressman – ASK him/her what you can do to help the gas prices…pretty sure they will not speak of a boycott.
Us americans are to dam fat these days anyway. Put down the car keys and the twinkies and ride a bike to work. maybe walk more than the distance from home to dunkin donuts. THATS how you hurt the oil companies.
Well lets just says its an experiment albeit a trivial one to possibly show that the people could actually come together for change- small change but change. If nothing happens well be proven that we need try harder, if something does come of it by way of a gas price drop we just might believe in the power of consumership and take bigger aim at change on a grander scale.
Why are the oil companies making record profits.When the big 3 auto makers going under. It seems to me that the oil companies would like to see the auto makers start to make profits so that we continue to buy the bigger cars and suvs. The oil companies would still make a profit.
It is really bad to see everyone being so negative amung each other. This boycott is about people trying to make a difference. If you want to call them stupid for trying then that would be your choice. Voting for the president is only “one vote” but it still counts. this should not be any different. If it doesnt make a difference at least the country was able to see that everyone did pull together and try to make an effort. I agree that maybe there should be another form of a boycott then just missing one day but it pains me to see so much people against “pulling together to make a difference” I will not be putting gas today just like i would still vote.
The Ideas that Americans are trying to come up with are all good. We are trying to take action now, but while we are trying to come up with an idea that will work, we should demand to our goverment to lower the federal taxes on a gallon of gas, along with demanding the state that we live in to follow suite for the summer months. That would give us relife right away, which would also save our economy!
Not buying gas for a single day is not really a boycott, unless you usually buy gas everyday. Is not buying gas for a single day going to change how much gas people consume? NO. What if you need gas today, your car is running empty. I guess you would have bought gas yesterday if you didn’t want be stranded.
I just don’t see how anybody can think that this is anything but a symbolic gesture. And the gas companies won’t care, because people will be buying their gas the next day.
If you want to make a difference, consume less gas. Share a ride. Buy a more economical vehicle. Combine several trips together into one.
Boycotting a single company for a certain period of time may have some affect. But if that is a big chain where you live, you could end up wasting more gas driving around looking for a different brand/station to buy from.
I’m not saying we can’t do anything, but lets give some thought to our ideas.
For the rest of this year, DON’T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), 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.
I saw the comment about boycotting the big three oil companies. That’s a great idea but where do you think the smaller companies get their crude from?
There are many small ways in which a person can help even though they may seem like a drop in the bucket. Not the least of which are all the government suggested things like checking tire pressure, slowing down, etc. None of these are bad ideas; including a one day boycott of gas stations, but that one day boycott also has to be followed up with changing you driving habits so you don’t have to run directly to the gas station tomorrow to fill up. I realize we can’t all rely on alternate forms of transportation but we can sure as heck try to limit our use as much as possible thereby sticking it to the oil companies a little for holding us over a barrell.
Most people know the boycott is more a statement than anything. We cant change big business in one day…but the statements a few people make can be riveting.
Here’s an idea. Educate the people to vote. Then maybe the we can have a voice again. People need to stop being lazy and use the rights given to them to insure the people have the equal power. Anyone ever do any research on how much oil companies contribute to campaigns of the current gov’t?
trufb-told….no I havent done the research..but Im sure its a lot..do you know?
Let’s keep up the boycott on a regular basis. We did it in the 70′s with a “To Hell with Shell (gas) “
BOYCOT BOYCOT BOYCOT”"”"”"”"”
well, I found this about Exxon:
Top Campaign Finance Recipients
National Republican Party Committees: $1,112,045
National Democratic Party Committees: $167,350
President George W Bush (R): $91,322
Rep Anne Meagher Northup (R-KY): $28,000
Rep Heather Ann Wilson (R-NM): $27,500
Rep Donald E Young (R-AK): $25,500
Sen John Eric Ensign (R-NV): $25,000
Sen Jim Bunning (R-KY): $21,000
Rep Donald L Sherwood (R-PA): $20,000
Sen Christopher S Bond (R-MO): $20,000
They seem to like Republicans. It didn’t take any time at all to find that and much more. I also learned about 527 groups… Thats an interesting thing.
Folks:
One day boycotts won’t work. The companies will just make their money another day (notice that I used the possessive form of “their” and not “there”). The only way(s) to get prices lower is to write your elected officials (like that will work—who knows?); get our Texan Oil Magnate King George “I Want a War to Justfy My Golden Parachute After I Leave Office” Bush out of office (which will happen only with an impeachemnt—does not apply to our Candian friends) and buy and drive more efficiently (hybrid autos; sell the gas-guzzling Hummers, Suburbans and Excursions (won’t happen here in Texas); combining trips; buy only as much gas as you will need and use; no jackrabbit starts/stops; properly inflated tires; keep your vehicles maintained, etc.).
“Big Oil” cares only about one thing—how much money they can put into their CEO’s and shareholder’s pockets. Notice the slick advertisements that Shell, Exxon-Mobil(which DOES NOT have an “E” at the end of it), BP, and the ilk are running. These “buy our gasoline and feel good” ads (the BP ones make me cringe, especially considering that BP is not sold in Texas because Valero owns most of the Lone Star State) only try to convince the viewer/reader that they want more money out of your wallet.
Canada—I feel your pain as well. The oil companies cannot hide behind “cents per litre” like they do here in the USA with dollars and cents per gallon. And what is with that annoying 9/10ths of a cent on the end of the price anyway? Just round the damn price up to a whole cent! We’re paying through the nose anyway…
And finally, folks, please—your computers have SPELLCHECK. USE IT! If you can’t write properly (if not in English, no less), PLEASE DO NOT POST!
My two cents worth. Keep the change.
Steve Gordon
San Antonio, Texas
not to mention people will just fill up the days preceeding the boycott and the days following…the day of profits is not eliminated, simply moved to a later date…
1 day will do nothing. 2 days a week and consistent – with notice to all states until the prices drop. It will not change the profit – what it will change is the numbers for that day (they focus on the daily total). Total Sales extremely cut. Topping off – Instead of 1/2 tank buy 1/4 tank – daily sales also cut in half. It will make a difference and they will drop the prices. Linda
It is now clear 1 day boycott is not going to do anything!Im just one guy and have no major imfo. on how to spread the word on a national level.But im all for boycotting a single company for a indefinite amount of time.I think with the profits they are posting (in the billions) a month wont work anymore than a day.So where I live(N.E.MICH.) BP seems to be everywhere and would be a obvious choice to pick as the one to boycott.So now the question is how do we spread the word nationwide not to buy from BP for 6 months /or until they drop prices down below $2.00 a gallon.That is what we need to figure out.we all want the same thing It’s not even the fact we are paying so much ,but that the truth is we are being robbed ,and we set back and grumble about it but dont do anything to correct it.SO you computer people out there with websites you bussiness owners,anyone with public exposure spread the word BOYCOTT BP Starting June 1st-07 No one buys from them or there subsidiaries (whom im not sure of)until the lower there prices.We have to band together to send a message to goverment, no we are not a flock of sheep that can be pushed in any direction and we can Still unite like our forefathers did and have a positive results instead of just sitting around whining about it. Let’s at least try.If the people who helped form our country(Washington,lincoln ,jefferson ETC.)were alive today this would’nt be happening ,they would be ashamed at what we have allowed the goverment to do, especially our exsisting president and his followers.They are freely allowed to lie to us(IRAQ), steal from us(GAS prices ), take us into far off lands and engage war on innocent people(IRAQ -IRAN if he has his wish),sit back and do nothing as 100,s of thousands of women and children are raped and killed like animals.(Ruwanda) And not lift a finger to help because there was no profit in it for us.How long are we going to sit back and do nothing, if you ask someone like Cheney or bush they would laugh and think forever because we are to stupid to unite.I hope for all of our sakes they are wrong.So SPREAD the word join your friends and neighbors and stand together as one and say this is it we will no longer be your sheep and for the good of America we SAY NO MORE GEORGE NO MORE DICK get out and stay out of our wallets and our homes (phone taps). So once again I hope this sets a sparks burning in the right person /or group (maybe you)To figure how to spread the word.It is our best shot at bringing a end to this.And who knows if we can do this maybe we could band together as a nation and have a positive affect on other issues that are in our daily lives.So lets quit bitching and do something positive to make some changes Tell your brother,sister aunt ,uncle,cousin,fellow worker,neighbor or anyone else you can think of . YOU CAN as one, be a person to help change things instead of just feeling violated everytime you have to buy gas.(Feel free to copy this and post it where ever you like.) SPREAD THE WORD !!! DO IT!!!!!!DO IT!!!!!
Gee, I thought when Queen Nancy Pelosi was coronated as House Speaker that she was going to cut gas prices in her first “100 days in office.”
Well girlfriend, it’s day 135 – so how about it?
And for those of you hyperventilating about “King George” and “impeachment,” give it a rest. He’s out in January 2009 and can’t run for office again – despite what you are reading on DailyKaka or DemonicUnderwear.
Focus instead on Congress, who enacts the revenue (tax) legislation. Specifically Queen Pelosi (D-SF) and Sen. Harry GReid (D-NV).
Smooches,
Sheneneh J.
It would be wise to boycott only one gas company at a time. This way that company will reduce its price on that day and the others will follow. Boycotting all gas statitions does not make sense because consumers will either buy gas the day before or the day after. Thus the net effect on the gas companies is zero.
Lets start a boycott of one company for three days and see what happens.
I think the best idea ive heard would be to boycott the big time gas stations… Shell, Chevron, Texaco .. After all, they set the prices. I would love to be apart of this effort and im actually going to be doing some speaking regarding this around my community… Everything starts small, maybe everyone on this page should get in contact some how and we should all see what resources we can use to organize this campaign. 2.00 – 2.50 was descent but gas is 3.40 and its bush’s fault. My email is jeremy@livespot.us and I plan on making a website devoted to this cause. Boycotting for one day wont help s—. Lets go after the big dogs!
Ever heard the term “The Straw that broke the camels” back, its the smallest move that makes the biggest change.
The writers theory, if we all used less gasoline and drove less it would bring the price down.
This would never happen, reason, cars have become very efficient in the last 2 decades, auto companines have done their part. Gas monopolies just kept raising prices. If we all drove a car with a 2 ltr motor or less and drove only on weekends they would triple the price at the pumps and you would still end up spending the same amount on gas over a year except now your life stinks, cause you can’t afford to drive anywhere even in a small car. What might work is break the monopoly of refiners. Anything this essential should never have been allowed to grow so large that they have complete control over the markets and its pricing. This is exactly when the market forces can’t function the way they should, normal supply and demand function doesn’t work and its broken by this super monopolies
This gas boycott will only work if the true patriots of America, the truckers, decide to refrain from buying gas and or using their vehicles for one day. This would get the message across.
Jeremy, honey, are you suffering from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome)? You know, where if you wake up one morning and your wife has left you, your dog is dead and your underwear has shrunk, it’s ALL BUSH’S FAULT?
Get a grip, chile. Take a chill pill.
Boycott for one day will not work, but if everyone would boycott one company, Exon/Mobil for one year, just watch the prices roll back. Exon would have to come down to get us to buy it, then the others would have to come down to compete. If everyone would do it this would work!
Its not stupid at all, ineffective maybe but at least it keeps the situation in public view. I like hearing people saying things like this are stupid, it amuses me. When really it just boils down that they dont have enough in them to do anything themselves. They just like to whine and gripe and assume theres nothing that can be done because they’re too afraid, ignorant, or pessimistic to defend anything. What kind of life is that? If its so stupid than why dont they participate anyway? If it wont make a difference then whats the harm in it?
Rather then boycotting for one day ,we should try boycotting one brand for a month ,during that time buy another brand.
http://www.exxonmobile.com/Siteflow/Brands/Master_Brand_Page.asp are the Exxon and Mobile gas station names.
Ban Exxon / Mobile until Gas prices FALL! See Enairo.com for details!
I think it’s a better idea to botcott certain companies. Like Exxon, Shell, Mobil and Citgo…after a few weeks they will notice.
Why don’t we all stop talking about it and just do it!
Remember when you boycott a gas station that the people who will be hurt the most are the little guys like me who work for minimum wage at that station. A week ago, I was accosted by an angry customer who threw his credit card at me which nicked my face and drew blood. I threw it back and demanded an apology, which I got! No ONE should have to put up with that kind of garbage. It gets old to hear for the 100th time a day how awful this is…yes it is awful! But, until the american public sends a clear message by reducing our consumption with carpooling, driving more gas efficient vehicles and walking places it won’t make a difference. We want what we want, so long as we don’t have to make any sacrifices to get it. Unless this country is “shut down” for a day I dont’ believe a boycott will be noticed by the big oil companies at all. Small boycotts will only result in the reduction of hours in work/pay for people like myself who earn minimum wage and will cause them hardship. The big oil executives won’t even notice the ripple.
Contrary to popular opinion, small franchise service station owners do NOT make much profit at all! I do the books for the station where I am also a cashier so I know of what I speak. The profit the station owners make is eaten up in fees for the conveniences consumer have to have such as the ability to use a credit or debit card. An article in a journal about convenience stores stated that the credit card fees were 25% higher than the profit margins c-store owners made off of cigarettes and pop. Service stations buy gasoline from their suppliers at a certain price and such was the case this week, the gasoline prices dropped 7 cents and we are selling that gas in the tanks underground at a loss. Most stations fill up 3/4 times a week so it is an ever fluctuating thing.
The owner of the station where I work puts in long hours and drives older vehicles so I know he’s not rolling in profits from gasoline. Back years ago, before so many taxes and such were added onto gasoline the profit margins were bigger.
Thanks and keep in mind when you do buy gas that the person behind the counter doesn’t have stock in OPEC.
There’s an Organization that seems to be trying to do just that….boycott one Oil Company for an extended time. Seems like the right idea? It is at http://www.angryatthepump.org
http://www.hess.com/ep/operations.htm
They arent worth a single bomb. Hurt them where it counts.
Hess is bess for the wess.
i boycott gas EVERYDAY. on Mondays i boycott all stations that start with the letter M. on Tuesdays and Thursdays i boycott stations that start withe the letter T. on Saturdays and Sundays i boycott stations that start with the letter S. i need your help to lower gas prices so please use this system to boycott gas EVERYDAY. because the oil companies make so much money off of us there are plenty of places to buy gas. lets use that fact to OUR advantage. what will those S stations do to get their business back? i dont know, maybe lower their PRICES??? if we dont stop to buy their gas they won’t be selling us our Cokes and Smokes either. OUCH! that will hurt the record-breaking bottom lines won’t it? the price of gas is determined by supply and DEMAND. they have the supply, but WE ARE DEMAND. please tell a friend about this EVERYDAY GAS BOYCOTT.
I believe if we all got together and Boycotted
all the big gas stations and just buy from places like sheetz at lower prices.If we dont buy anything conected with EXXON,TEXACOP,AND MOBIL,that would hurt them alot. I have stoped buying from any of them since the begining of the year. I wish more of you would join me and we could hurt the big boys.
I boycott gas weekly by canceling 2-3 trips to the city each week. Our family, friends and neighbors now car pool to the mall, restaurants, theater and even going into the city. We leave 1 or 2 cars parked at places like Wal-Mart, then pile into one car.
Our next move is to purchase diesel cars and trucks and having them converted to vegetable oil. We will coop to build a filtration system for used oils from places like Chinese restaurant and rig up a truck to go around and pick up oil once each week. Then we will coop our own little “gas station” amongst ourselves.
A bit of diesel fuel when starting and stopping, then switch to veggie oil when the proper temp is reached. This cooperative move will save about 3 thousand dollars each year!! …and more importantly will keep us from about a thousand gallons of gas each year.
Now THAT is what I call a gas boycott!!
On another note, I was amazed at the number of comments (concerted effort) written over the years to keep the public from starting a REAL gas boycott. By saying “it won’t work” a million times and having experts get major exposure they took the wind from the sails of those wishing to stage a boycott.
A boycott is effective, not because it drives prices lower…but rather because it gets the media talking!! Do the boycotts monthly and keep the subject of solving the gas crises in everyone’s mind…via the media. That’s how things get changed.
I like your thinking Rande. I wish I could pay for a new or used truck (car) that could run on veggie oil. One thing I can think of to boycott the big people who I pay around $100 every time I get to empty is to change it up. Everyone go to one place and hell with the rest, the next month, go to another. Ex. May 08 Exxon, June 08 Shell, and so on. I like to go to the little guy. We all need to get on board with on great idea. This is really getting out of hand(like you don’t know this). I’m paying over $175 a week in gas for only one vehicle. I drive 40 miles round trip to work and my wife goes over 60 a day for school. Shure we could find something closer. My job has to pay all the bills and for a great school that she goes to. I will not change that. What happend to $1.00 gas???????? Someone is banking, and it’s not us people.. Go with Rande if you can,, burn the veggie or used cooking oil(it can be free).. Take care everyone and take it easy on the right foot,, it might save you a few $$$$$$$ this week.
Boycotting gas is possible .
We can call for a -Gas boycotting week-The way to do it is to work on a car pooling plan .We will be going to work but in car pooling .The message should go to the Oil Companies ,we might not hurt them in a week but a well organized plan will affect their business.Who knows you might get used to the car pooling and you will keep it for good .