Reader Comments on the Great American 'Gas Out'
I was heartened to find I'm not completely alone as regards my opinion of the so-called "Great Gas Out." According to an April 5 MSNBC feature, the American Automobile Association is skeptical of the email-driven protest too, as is Kansas City Star columnist Jerry Heaster along with a few other curmudgeonly types across the country. Still, an online poll conducted by New Jersey Online shows 84% of respondents in favor of the Gas Out, and opinions expressed by visitors to this Website fall roughly along the same lines.
Herewith, a sampling...
i think the gas out is a great idea and should be nation wide for a day. i think the gas company's are taking advantage of the situation and you have to let them know somehow that we're fed up (ie. carpooling more, public transportation, bike riding, etc.). no matter how big or small the scale we have to do something.
I read your piece on the "GAS OUT" chain mail. I personally plan to participate. What can it hurt? Gas prices went from .80/gal to $1.12/gallon. There is no reason I see for OPEC to determine the price of gas. It works like this, IF 1,000,000 people participate and the avg fill up is 10 gals then that's a loss of 10,000,000 gallons sale for April 30. If people fill up the following day it then the sales goto May's sales and not April so the gas companies will show a pretty good loss for the month of April. Even if this is frivilous, atleast it's making people aware of a serious problem. Why should a company decide that prices are too low and make a concious effort to cost consumers more at the pumps. Personally, I try to drive as little as possible anyway, and ride my Mtn Bike as much as possible, but it makes me feel better to do something more like not buying gas on a particular day. If people learn to band together more we can get this country back where it should be.
Re: The Great Gas out. Being from San Diego where we have been getting gouged by the oil oligarchy for several years, and having just seen our regular gas prices go up over 60 cents a gallon in the last month, I am willing to grasp at any straws, and make a statement by not purchasing gas on April 30.
I'm surprised you got so many e-mails supporting the gas-out. Now, if the e-mail urged people to not drive their cars or carpool on a certain day, then maybe a difference could be made. But the Gas-Out the way it is written isn't gonna do squat. It's junk, and most of your readers know it.
Response to "The Great Gas Out" - I find it hard to believe that "we the people" can not make a dent in the gas industries pocketbook. I for one do think we can make a difference. I would like to know if other cities in the United States are being charged an average of $1.79/gallon of gasoline. San Francisco is always hit hard when gas prices rise. Why is this? I'm sick of being told I can not do anything. Speak for yourself. I'm doing the great gas out. I would encourage people to look for alternative modes of transportation such as carpooling, bus, train, electric car, bicycle, walking, etc. As a people we can send a very clear message to the gas industry if we are willing to give up some of our comforts for more than one day.
Would just like to let you know I received several of the "Gas Out" emails. Also sent them on to everyone in my address book also. Not sure I agree with your article on it though and was really surprised to see it here. I am not at all sure it would not do something if everyone did not buy gas for that one day. What I really think about it, is that is a way for the American people to make a statement and be heard. Everyone I have spoken to or knows about it says they will do it just to see if it does make a difference, and that is where most people are really coming from.
Take the gas out "junk" off your list. You may think its silly, but the actual fact is that there is no reason for the present gouging...the two million barrel/day reduction will not likely happen. You owe your viewers an apology for this one.
If people really want to make a statement, tell them to not only refuse to buy gas on Friday April 30, but leave their cars at home too! Riding the bus, train, or a bicycle on April 30th will truely deprive the oil companies of revenue.
It was disturbing to actually see it in writing that we the people have no power anymore. I figured it that way for some time now. But that won't stop me from joining the crusade. Shame on you for perpetuating such a philosophy.
I have to tell you that the Great Gas Out is NOT an urban myth. I have been corresponding with numerous community agencies accross Canada and this boycott will be undertaken in many cities accross the county, as well as other forms of protest during the day. Media coverage for this event has already begun.
Have you ever heard of the term "the glass is half empty". I could not believe what I was reading. Talk about trying to take away somebody's hope. That was a full blown defense for the gas company if I have ever heard one. Just because the gas prices in the u.s. have always been lower and still are does not mean that what we are being charged is reasonable or necessary. I don't care if a gas out will hurt the oil industry or not but the small chance that "the people" could send some kind of united message is worth far more than sitting back and allowing ourselves to be screwed just one more time without any response on our part. The people united are a far bigger industry than the oil companies will ever be, so I guess we'll just wait for April 30th and let the chips fall where they may.
THAT IS MY LETTER ABOUT THE GAS OUT AND IT'S NO HOAX AND NO URBAN LEGEND OR JUNK! I SPENT ALOT OF TIME SENDING THAT LETTER OUT TO THOUSANDS AND I ALSO POSTED IT ALL OVER MY TOWN AND SURROUNDING TOWNS AND SO LET IT BE WRITTEN, AND SO IT SHALL BE DONE! IT WILL HAPPEN. BE ASSURED...MAYBE YOU ARE A MILLIONARE THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE COST OF THINGS....
[This is the second person who has written me claiming to have originated the email. A third contacted me to say that she knows who the author is but did not divulge the name.]
(Updated: 04/14/99)
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