Stop Sending Those “Don’t Buy Gas” Emails
May 7th, 2007 | by Brian Carr |Thanks to the recent run-up in gas prices, many of our email accounts have become cluttered with chain emails asking us to boycott major gasoline stations on a certain date in the future. The reason being, we’re pissed about having to pay so much for gas and if we all band together for one day and refuse to buy gas, we’re supposedly going to cost the major gas companies billions of dollars and force them to drop the price of gas.
For those of you who continually forward these emails to everyone on your contact list, please stop. This is one of the most ridiculous ideas out there and it would never work.
There are plenty of extremely logical and obvious reasons why this tactic would never work, yet most of us tend to overlook these as we focus on trying to place blame for the nearly 40% jump in the price of gas since the end of February. As is usually the case, logic tends to take a backseat to emotion.
That being said, I’m going to try my best to explain why this idea won’t ever work in the real world and why you should automatically delete any emails like this that you may receive.
The first (and most obvious) reason is you are simply delaying the purchase of the gasoline you need; we’re not actually decreasing the demand for gas (which might bring the prices down), we’re just shifting the demand to another day in the very near future.
For example, let’s say that 100,000,000 people decide to join this boycott, which causes 1,000,000,000 fewer gallons of gasoline to be purchased on that particular day. In theory, this would cost the major gas and oil companies about $3 billion in revenue.
However, you mean to tell me that during the next couple of days that those 100,000,000 people aren’t going to go back to the gas stations to purchase the gas that they didn’t buy the day they were boycotting? Of course they’re going to; they still need all that gasoline in order to get to work, drive the kids to soccer practice, etc.
There wasn’t a drop in demand, just a shift in demand - which means that the gas companies don’t actually lose the $3 billion in revenue, they just get it within the next couple of days.
The second reason is if for some insane reason this boycott tactic actually worked and did cause the gas companies to lose money, do you actually think that these companies would lower prices to gain back the small percentage of their total annual revenue that they lost? I highly doubt it.
The more likely scenario would be these companies would actually slightly RAISE prices in order to try and collect some of the money that they may have lost.
Hopefully it has become pretty obvious that the only way we’re going to be able to save money on our car’s gasoline is to reduce the demand for gasoline by driving less and driving more fuel efficient vehicles. It’s not going to come by some crazy scenario where we boycott gasoline stations for one arbitrary day.
So on that note, please take me off of your spam list.
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64 Responses to “Stop Sending Those “Don’t Buy Gas” Emails”
By Nickelking on May 8, 2007 | Reply
My reaction to these emails is to respond with a very abbreviated version of your response and a suggestion that they boycott one company rather than the whole industry if they want to see a price change.
So far nobody’s taken me up on it, but hopefully one day with my re: spamming someone up the chain of chain mail (of the e type, not the armor type) will realize how ineffective a one day boycott is compared to a traditional boycott.
thanks for your message to armchair revolutionaries hopefully some of them listen to it.
By Ken on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Thank you so much for posting this! My response to these stupid emails is to send the link to the Snopes article covering this topic ( http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp ). I may have to ad this to my responses. For those who follow the “boycott one company” train of thought that also will not work. http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp
Plain and simple gas an petroleum are subject to the same laws of supply and demand. If the demand for the product is not reduced the prices will remain high to adjust. People seem to forget the basic fundamentals of economics when it come to gasoline since it seems people feel they have a right to use it cheaply. The only way to reduce prices is through using less, be it driving less, making where you drive more productive, or getting better fuel economy. People need to stop being lazy and actually make the sacrifices if they want lower prices.
By Peter on May 8, 2007 | Reply
How about everybody boycotting one company, forcing them to drop their prices and creating some healthy competition!!
By Leo on May 8, 2007 | Reply
The major factor that is driving the price of gasoline higher is not because a shortage of oil. It is because there are too few refineries in the US to convert the oil into gasoline to keep up with the demand.
The oil companies should be reinvesting their windfall profits into building more refineries to bring down the cost of gasoline but they make more profits when the price of gasoline is higher so they have no incentives to change and build new refineries. NY State is looking into this problem right now.
By Sean on May 8, 2007 | Reply
If people were smart they would send email chains to encourage people to buy Hybrids and/or small engine fuel efficient cars. Then you use less gas in general and therefore you pay less for gas.
By Inda on May 8, 2007 | Reply
You guys should look up “Peak Oil”. We’re screwed no matter what you do. Prices are only going up from now on as supply runs lower and demand exponentially gets higher. We have to start thinking about other power sources. Peak Oil is more dangerous and sooner coming then Global Warming.
By Tim on May 8, 2007 | Reply
The realdamage would come to the small businesses that sell the gas. They have razor thin margins and a bad day before bills might hurt even though it should even out eventually. By the time it makes it to the pump the big gas companies have already sold the gas to a reseller, some to themselves in their own subsidiary stores and the rest to the little guys.
The real deal would to have a month of carpooling or mass transit regardless of how long it took. We might find it to work and use it better and the loss of real consumption would work.
As far as boycotting one company, they would just slash prices temporarily and everyone would forgot get why they are driving to the more expensive guy down he road.
By Brandon on May 8, 2007 | Reply
How about just driving less?
By Tommy on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Yea, no… to both the boycott all/one company stuff and Leo’s idea of too few refineries.
#1 people in this country need to realise that the “gas/oil” companies are energy companies. Just like “70%” they need to realise that plastic is made of oil. Best way to lower price is to lower demand, use more energy efficient cars and lightbulbs and the price will go down, unless of course the barrel price goes even higher. Even then if your goal is to get back at the oil companies… doesn’t work that way. Even with everything else they also provide diesel/fuel oil. Diesel/fuel oil is used for just about shipping industry. If trucks stop moving civilization dies.
#2 The reason there are not enough refineries is that the goverment will not give new permits due to all the half-thoughtout environmental laws.
By dave on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, that’s right, just bend over and take it.
That’s the American spirit in action!
By Gas on May 8, 2007 | Reply
I can’t say I agree much with your post, while the chain mail likely wouldn’t cause much of an impact at all, the people who are not buying gas are not the people with 3/4 of a tank deciding to wait a few days to fill up, the hope would be that the person completely on Empty will not fill up and thus not drive. In theory, if enough of these people, who are on low gas, are not filling up as would be expected by gas stations than expected consumption levels would actually fall. If there was a large enough number of people (in theory) than the demand would temporarily dry up and gas companies would adjust prices to what they would think were dropping demand levels. Of course by the next day demand would rise to normal levels and price would increase accordingly. Unless someone knows how frequently demand/supply is analyzed by gas companies you can not comment on if gas prices would temporarily drop, although in my experience I see gas stations change prices sometimes up to 4 times a day so I feel as though it is heavily monitored somewhere. Since one days demand may not be heavily analyzed, likely one would need to try and not consume gas for a longer stretch of time. So, I feel it is likely bullshit that enough people would ever participate to effect this, but in theory enough people could temporarily lower prices, how much of a loss this would lead to is never going to be near $3 billion dollars as recorded but in getting people to possibly drive less could reach maybe $100,000? who knows.
By Steve on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Well… The fact is that if we all boycott lets say, Shell, or Mobil for a week and buy gas anywhere else, then the price would come down at Shell. If we did the same to Mobil the next week, we would start to realize that the consumer is in control of pricing as it is with any other comodity. i know that this will never actually happen but it would work if the American consumer banded together and did just that.
By Tim on May 8, 2007 | Reply
dude, i totaly agree. i tried telling my friends that a gas boycott wouldn’t work, but they insisted on “sending a message” to the gas companies. lol
By Zhepa Trans on May 8, 2007 | Reply
have you ever thought about where is most of this oil coming from, i mean from what country, and what is going on in that country in the past, maybe 15 years. one word.
dubai
By Anonymous on May 8, 2007 | Reply
economics says it won’t have an effect. we are price takers, not price makers.
By TypicalAmerican on May 8, 2007 | Reply
There’s no need to boycott the oil companies. Free market capitalism leads to the best solution all the time. Yay America!!
By bpnjensen on May 8, 2007 | Reply
For heaven’s sake, just keep buying the gas you need. My petroleum stocks have never been higher!
By person on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Ok, for all you arrogant people suggesting that we should just build more refineries to solve the problem, grow a brain! Open a newspaper for once and read about something that is happening beyond your tiny little insignificant world.
We are running out of oil for starters. Within the next 20 years scientists (depending who you ask) have predicted it will be all gone. But even before then we are all going to choke on our own gas fumes if we dont change the way we think now. Its not about you having to pay an extra $10 per week to fill up your gas-guzzling SUV. The problem we have is about changing the world to become less dependent on fossil fuels and preserving the Earth for our kids.
Typical arrogant Americans. Most of you only care about your own selfish little needs and are so closed minded you can’t see past your minuscule little sphere of influence. But who cares about the rest of the world as long as America gets what it needs huh? hehe Except when we kill the Earth with our fossil fuels, you’ll be dead too.
By Steve on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Sounds personal. America is anything but minuscule. Not sure where your from but I’m sure that you depend on America to protect you and your family. Perhaps you should look beyond your back yard. So goes the American economy, so goes the world. Like it or not. That’s the fact.
By George on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Although it won’t really work, raising awareness about fuel consumption is always a good thing.
But I agree with the poster above who said: “how about just drive less.”
By Neil on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Your frustration is understandable, but your logic is flawed. The purpose of the boycott is not just to shift demand, but also to encourage drivers to conserve or find alternatives to driving. This would hypothetically lower demand, which elementary school economics tells you will lower the price. By not buying gas that day, they choose to limit their driving and send a message that a cap will be reached on consumers’ willingness to pay higher prices.
By Alex on May 8, 2007 | Reply
Instead of being hostile to the intentions of people who forward this email, you could instead highlight the alternative that would work. If everyone refrained from driving on a certain day, that would indeed result in a drop in demand.
By beechunt79 on May 9, 2007 | Reply
Boycotting will never work because we have a created a very auto dependent society.
By Noah on May 9, 2007 | Reply
Boycotting one company also fails the economy quiz. It will cause a localized surplus for one company (reducing prices), and a localized shortage for the other companies (raising prices). The surplus company will simply sell to the short companies.
More importantly, go check out the name on the side of the gas truck filling up your local station next time — there’s a good chance that a competitor is supply gas to that station. Distribution and point of sales are independent factors in gas supply. So targeting one company probably won’t even effect distribution the way you’re thinking it will.
By Yosef on May 9, 2007 | Reply
Hey guys, my name is truly George W Bush and I am truly the president…you believe me right? Well I don’t believe you trying to be an economist. You all know absolutely nothing other than your supply and demand intersecting to form an equilibrium high school bull. The elasticity of gas is close to 0, the market for gas is an oligopoly. It’s not the perfect competition you learned in Econ 101. If you boycott gas, whether it be one company, or 7, you will not accomplish anything. There is nothing you can do besides cut off your entire dependency on gas, to lower prices. You know why prices are so high? Because you’re so addicted to oil that you can’t even stop using it when it costs 4$ a gallon, and then you try to come up with some 3rd grade plan to solve your problems. If you’re sick of gas prices, ride a bus, buy a bike, just stop bitching because you can’t do anything because you’re miniscule and worthless to society.
By Jeremy on May 9, 2007 | Reply
It isn’t a short-term boycot of one or two stations that will make a difference. Besides the best (and most obvious) option of lowering overall consumption via carpooling, hybrids, etc., the only option that would help is for people to start buying gas at the cheapest station/chain. In my area, Maverik, Flying J, and Albertsons all tend to have the lowest prices, usually in the dimes per gallon range cheaper than the Shell and Chevron chains. I’ve done mileage tests and my cars run exactly the same on the “discount” gasoline compared to the big boys’ with the fancy additives.
I realize the whole supply and demand issue comes into play. But consider that if everybody decided to start buying gas at the cheapest outlet, all other chains would be forced to drop their price otherwise they have zero demand. Sure the currently cheapest company could raise their price because of the new demand, but could never raise it above the price of the next highest competition as people would simply start buying their gas at the other guy.
Too many people believe they need the super-duper premium gasoline with the SuperBreakTheBank additives to run their SUV back and forth to work. Some do run better on higher octane, I’ll give them that, but past that point it doesn’t matter where the gas is purchased.
Since Maverik is almost always cheaper in my area, I buy most all of my gas there. Besides being the cheapest, they also claim (I haven’t done any research either way) that they use only American-sourced oil, so I’m also not supporting OPEC in the process.
Jeremy
By Yosef on May 9, 2007 | Reply
Once again, an example of people talking about supply and demand as if they know something about it. If everyone bought gas from the local Flying J or some other hick station, that company would become a bigger company, and what do places do when they have loyal customers? They RAISE prices because they can, because your inane self forms an attachment to their organization. You can’t swindle your way past this problem, the only solution is to stop driving or switch the power source throughout the nation, pump money into fission research, hydrogen power, whatever it may be. Stop pretending you know something, your simple minded solutions won’t magically solve a problem that the best economists in the country have no solution for.
By Kismet on May 9, 2007 | Reply
The real exercise in these buycotts isnt to make any significant drop in demand but to display consumer power — and that can be effective.
Companies who are afraid of negative consumer reactions are far more circumspect in their actions. The real question is whether you think that oil companies need to be humbled. I’d agree they need to be humbled but because of their unethical behaviors not because of high gas prices. Oil companies have extremely little influence over the price of gas.
By Steve on May 10, 2007 | Reply
In the 1970’s when there was a gas crisis, we were asked to use less energy. Less gas, less electric and less power in general. People actually did cut back and it was surprising how much power was saved by consumers actually consuming less. The result of everyone cutting back was a rise in cost since the electric compaines were selling something like 15% less power and had to raise the price to stay afloat.
Think about that. It’s a fact.
By me on May 10, 2007 | Reply
everyone needs to drive smarter (car pool, not peel out & burn rubber) and walk to your destination when able… the car manufacturers need to produce products that consume less fuel and move towards hybrids!! the car companies need to make these vehicles accessable and price efficient– do a trade in of your gas guzzling, fume expending car/ SUV for a hybrid car/SUV- then recycle the parts of the old and turn them into something new… its the circle of life
so send your hate mail to the car companies to make more energy efficient cars & trade in the old; we cant do anything about the oil- the countries who supply with it us hate us… but not our MONEY!!
oh yeah- buy stock in BIG BUSINESS petrolium/ gas companies- make your money and gas work for you since you HAVE to spend it!
By Yosef on May 10, 2007 | Reply
Essentially, within 30 years the entire supply of natural gases and oils will be depleted. The reason gas prices are ridiculous is because of the law of scarcity. We can battle big businesses, and do all that crap, but it will only put off the inevitable. We need to switch to a different power source, you can argue your hypothetical theories all you want, but whether they work or not, they will work less and less over time, and eventually (in the very near future) gas will just become ridiculously overpriced because the supply is depleted.
By Steve on May 10, 2007 | Reply
Not true Yosef. The is plenty of oil in the ground that can and will last for many life times to come. We discover more every year. We find ways to refine and use different grades of oil all the time. Look at Canada. There is enough oil there to fuel the entire world even with the growth senario for the next 150 years. You need to stop listening to the news and get the real facts.
By Amy on May 12, 2007 | Reply
“we’re just shifting the demand to another day in the very near future”
You make it sound like people need gas EVERYday. I don’t know what type of car you drive, but with mine I usually fill its tank up only once every three weeks.
By Steve on May 12, 2007 | Reply
Amy, if you speaking to me, I drive a Toyota. 21 miles street and 31 highway. Point is, it doesn’t matter what one drives. Oil is the life blood of our entire economy and much more than that. This about just plastic, rubber, and everything else that is oil based. As I mentioned before, 80% of everything me need is derived from oil. It is something the worlds major powers will fight for to the very end. Get used to that fact.
By Brian Carr on May 12, 2007 | Reply
Amy - that’s not the point that I’m trying to make. I think it’s unrealistic to think that people purchase gas every day. I’m just trying to say that the people who would have otherwise purchased gas on the 15th will buy the same amount on the 14th or the 16th.
By Yosef on May 12, 2007 | Reply
You can say there are 150 years of oil left, but you’re just pulling that out of your ass. I’ll site a published source i.e. http://www.spe.org/spe/jsp/basic/0,,1104_1008218_1109511,00.html “At 2003 consumption levels [2], the remaining reserves represent 44.6 years of oil and 66.2 years of natural gas.” So it seems your 150 years was a bit of stretch huh Steve?
By Steve on May 12, 2007 | Reply
I don’t believe that Yosef, There is oil deep in the ground that we don’t have the technology to reach as yet. I guess if one has a negative attatude about this then you can find enough on the net to back up your opinion but as far as I’m concerned, there is enough oil and enough different types of oil that can fuel the world for even more than 150 years.
By mike on May 12, 2007 | Reply
Thats exactly just the problem. I know I may be going off a limb here, but I happen think that higher gas prices are a GOOD thing. Arguing how to best lower gas prices is begging the question that lowing the gas prices should be our goal to begin with. Higher gas prices is exactly the answer to getting people to care about the environment, guilt trips isn’t. In case you think that gas is so inelastic, I beg to differ.
Also, didn’t Gore once did a speech chastising the oil companies for increasing the gas prices. Would that encourage people to waste MORE gas.
Forget anything that Al Gore told you (I haven’t seen his movie, its possible he gave the same advice I am about to give you.) Here is WHAT you can do.
1) drive more efficient cars (he probably did mentioned that)
2) more importantly, DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.
3) write your local municipal leaders asking them to actually ENFORCE the speed limit. Charge a $500 fine for doing 90 in a 55 mile zone on your 2nd and beyond offense and use radar detectors everywhere. (also an awesome way to increase revenue, and maybe we can even lower state taxes)
4) Write your Congressman to do away with gas subsidies and instead tax the shit out of it. (and maybe lower federal taxes)
5) ration gas and give some quota to everyone. For every gallon you go over your quota you pay DOUBLE the original gas prices.
6) Give tax breaks to people who choose to live in the city instead of the suburbs (using the money from taxes and fines)
btw- just for the record, I am not too much above anything I just wrote. I am just as guilty of wasting gas as the rest of you, before I get anyone telling me I should practice what I “preach”. That is precisely part of the problem. I don’t think preaching and trying to make people feel guilty is the solution. I think taxation, and then giving people a choice if they’re willing to pay it or not, rather than being all preachy and judgmental about it, is the best solution.
By mike on May 12, 2007 | Reply
“I guess if one has a negative attatude about this then you can find enough on the net to back up your opinion but as far as I’m concerned, there is enough oil and enough different types of oil that can fuel the world for even more than 150 years.”
But then why not try to make that same supply last 300, or even 450 years, if you can.
By roger lis on May 14, 2007 | Reply
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!!!!!!
By Steve on May 14, 2007 | Reply
If we still need oil in 150 years, then we are all doomed. The hope is that technology will advance to the point that it will no longer be need for fuel. Let’s face it, we will all be driving cars that run on water in the next 50 years.
By Motorcycle Guy on May 14, 2007 | Reply
Of course we’ll still need oil in 150 years that’s ridiculous to think we won’t. Hopefully it won’t be a primary source of fuel though.
By Steve on May 14, 2007 | Reply
Isn’t that what I just said?
By Yosef on May 14, 2007 | Reply
Essentially I agree with Mike on a large part because we need to be more considerate to the environment, as cliche and hippy as it sounds. Our actions will screw us over in the end, and I think higher gas prices make people more conscientious of their gas usage. I know personally I ride my bike when it’s nicer outside now that I have to pay 4$ to drive there and back a relatively short distance.
By Amy on May 15, 2007 | Reply
If oil will last us for 150 years, then we’re fine. We’re already developing hydro and electricity efficient cars.
By Frazier on May 21, 2007 | Reply
You people are looking at this all wrong and quite frankly you looking at it just the way big oil wants you to look at it. We are never going to decrease demand for energy which is what drives the cost of oil. Most of the oil that is produced is not even used for gasoline and let’s imagine we did switch to electric cars - how would we produce the electricity? - by burning fuel.
But there is one factor that will REALLY have an impact on the price of gas and that is supply. If we simply increase the supply of refined oil the price of gasoline will drop. See, big oil (with the help of environmentalist wacos) have successfully limited the supply of refined oil ARTIFICIALLY. They have created the illusion that there is a short supply of oil so they can sell it at a higher price. Kinda like DeBoers and Diamonds(if you didn’t know diamonds are just about the most plentiful gem on the planet and should cost much less than rubies). The reality is there is an overwhelming abundance of oil and the oil we have burned thus far has not been proven to have any real impact on the environment(very little of the carbon emissions on this planet come from automobiles and most actually comes from nature itself). SO LET’S MAKE MORE AND START USING IT.
P.S. oil will be a renewable resource:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2004-01-22-kantor_x.htm
it didn’t take millions of years to make in the first place.
By Dan on May 30, 2007 | Reply
Thanks so much for bringing much attention to this silly issue of “punishing” those evil capitalistic oil companies:
Every once in a while, I get a chain email with something so silly in it that I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Years back, I had lengthy debates with people who swore that if you keep forwarding an email, Microsoft would pay you for every recipient. This was just plain silly, but since the email said it was not a hoax, there was no listening to reason. Cell phones do not in fact blow up innocent gas pumpers; there has never been one documented case of such an explosion occurring while pumping gas, yet the signs abound at gas stations and some lawmakers have actually proposed legislation to enact tough fines for such atrocities. The list goes on.
Well, today was the perennial gas boycott in the old U.S. of A. All this really does is highlight the gullibility and general lack of understanding of one of the most basic tenants of supply and demand in our society. Americans do a pretty good job of embarrassing themselves on the world stage without having to add fuel to the fire. Don’t get me wrong, this is undeniably the best country in the world to live in (Tony Blair hit the nail on the head when he said that a good measure of a country is how many people are trying to get in versus trying to get out; I don’t see Hollywood actors flocking to France, they just like to bash the U.S. on their soil when there for the Cannes film festival), but we do a great job of making the general populous look pretty silly.
Why is the boycott silly?
… (visit for more ranting)
By Lloyd on Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
A total boycott of buying transporation fuel is a frevilous idea, cause you still need the fuel to go back and forth to work. But how about this idea.
Because of marketing is built on supply and demand ..lets say boycott for a specific time range like one whole month boycott Chevron, Mobile, Exxon - all fuels, oils, greases this would cause a downward trend in prices because you now have a over supplied provider, then the next month boycot BP(British Protroleum), Shell, Conoco/Phillips 66. They in turn would have to do the same. Alternate the months in a national coordinate strike, hit them where it herts, their stock reports. And what about bringing back that windfall profit tax….lets think smarter and lets take back the initiative on market prices. And it could go the same in all market aspects, such as where you buy your groceries, etc.
By dave macneil on Apr 6, 2008 | Reply
Alot of these responses are true to there word,but,not entirely true as I feel if we all stopped buying gas for one day,and reduce are use of feul every day in the future by simple steps,stay home and watch a movie,order in or cook instead of going out,call grocery deliveries,a major car pooling steps………….”DRIVE WITH ME”
This will work if its well planned and everybody does it,,,,,,,,EVERYBODY!
By David on Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
This is reticulus. The answer is NOT to drive less( I own a company and have no choice but to drive 500+ miles a week.)
The answer is not to buy a piece of crap hybrid, or walk, or bike it, or bus it. I have to drive a truck for the company.
The answer IS to stop buying gas PERIOD. This has got to stop.The government(Bush administration heavily invested in oil)is raping the public.
And what do we do? We just lay down and take it straight up the ASS as usual.
If every one including businesses shut down for a day or 2( I mean EVERY ONE including truckers.) it would cost oil company’s millions.
Every one has a day off available to them.
But we as a nation ARE NOT UNITED!!!! We are a Divided country, and we do nothing to bring resolve to the issues this country has.
Its because of people like the moron who made the origonal post here that this country is falling, the mexicans are taking over, and the rest of the world thinks were a big joke. The value of the $ is at an all time low(because of oil) housing has all but stopped(I know thats my business) And what does the public do? NOTHING!!!
By the way, busses don’t run everywhere. Only in big cities.
MOST people cann’t just go buy a hybrid, or gas sipper, because cost of living has sky rocketed(because of gas prices) so moving to a bus district, or purchasing special transportation is out of the question.
You fools can walk and ride your bikes, but every thing you buy, clothes, food, ect. is shipped via GAS and there prices keep climbing. You walkers will feel it later than sooner, and by that time it is too late. So many 6 figure salaried people live past there means, and people are defaulting on mortgages at record rates.
You think walking, buses, and hybrids are the answer? Your as foolish as the Indians were for allowing us to come over and take there land!!!!!!!!!!!
By David on Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
When this thread was made gas wasn’t near 4$ a gallon yet, now it is, and now America is in serious trouble.
A week or 2 ago truckers tried to strike the gas prices, but once again, WE ARE NOT UNITED IN THIS COUNTRY!! and the effort was futile. That was what diesel was 3.99 gal. Now its 4.20!!! And still climbing!
Airlines going out of business because of gas….You going to ride a bike out of the country? Or take a bus across the Atlantic?
Act like you all have some kind of education, and common sense!!!!!
YES I AM PISSED AT PEOPLE LIKE THE FOOL MADE THIS THREAD. YOUR WHY OUR COUNTRY IS FALLING APART!
Damn there are so many stupid people with higher educations its unbelievable!!!!
By David on Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
It just dawned on me something….
People want the “stop buying gas” e-mails to stop. And there solution is walking, buses, hybrids, ect, ect….. That IS the act of stopping buying gas!!!!
DUHHH!!!!
And the hybrid is cutting way back on gas buying.
So by telling people to walk or take a bus, or ride a bike, you are also telling people to
STOP BUYING GAS!!!
hypocrites
By Brian Carr on Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
David,
What point are you trying to make? I think the point of the article was to say that by simply sending around an email saying “don’t buy gas on May 15″ we won’t actually decrease gas consumption. The real answer to the problem is to decrease fuel consumption and move towards cleaner, sustainable and renewable sources. Not entirely sure what your rant was about.
By Geoff on May 14, 2008 | Reply
Thank you! One other person out there who thinks this is riduculous.
http://www.gmilburn.ca/2008/05/14/oil-strikes-and-gasoline-boycotts/
By Typical 22yr old female on May 23, 2008 | Reply
I hate getting these emails! Text messages like that come on my phone too. I hate the gas prices too, who doesn’t, but the question is, what do I really do about it? Noone I work with lives near me so capooling is out of the question. I don’t have the money for a new hybrid/electric car. I never go anywhere, like the store or to a friends or anything else, unless it is on the way to or from work. I have looked up gas saving tips and try to drive better to conserve fuel. Still it is using gas and that is how the companies profit. What happened to american inginuity? Why are there not vehicles that run on cheaper power? I have heard that individuals have made cars that run on various other fuels but can’t market them because the government and large companies profit too much from gas fueled cars. Someone told me the government wouldn’t do that to us, but I don’t see why not, they do take 41% in taxes from the oil companies profits. Simply put I think we need to force the gas prices down or simply stop using gas. Refusing to buy gas on a certain day seems pointless to me, you have to buy it at one point or another so why do the companies care which day you do it? I have a 2 coworkers who ride a bicycles to work, I have begun to think this is a great idea for saving gas and also for getting in better shape(I am in no means even overweight but everyone needs exercise) so with my next paycheck, the gas money is going to buing a bike. Need groceries? Add one of those bike trailers to the back. If you live too far from work then maybe there is a halway point you can leave your car at and bike the rest of the way. I recently saw a guy driving an electric scooter. I’m sure some people will read this and laugh at the idea of riding your bike to work, but as you laugh remember I am no longer paying $250 in gas each month.
By David Again on May 25, 2008 | Reply
Ok now the whole world has to stop buying gas. All the econimic leaders say there is more demand than supply. Thats why were paying 4 bucks a gallon. And if the world doesn’t seriously cut back, the united states will be in a crisis like never before.
If every one had listened to the annoying stop buying gas e-mails, there would be no supply and demand problem.
Like the typical 22 yr old female, we’ll all be forced to “stop buying gas” Ironic huh?
By Mrgreen on May 26, 2008 | Reply
The only reason why hybrid’s were made was so gas companies could still make money. Hybrids have 45mpg. While this high and you would save fuel, the necessity for fuel is still apparent especially if your driving 70 miles a day to work and back. You are right in saying that gasoline is only a small part of oil usages but hypothetically everyone who works has vacation days. Lets say you had 100,000,000 people take off for a week no one bought gasoline at all. Of course to do this people would need to sacrifice everyday activities to not drive. But lets say if everyone started this boycott for a week with a full tank which would contradict a bit. But you would be going a full week without using or buying fuel then the next week cars would be fueled enough to go another couple of days without refuel. Fact of the matter is the fuel cost isnt going down, and no one really cares enough about it to do much of anything. Were all a bunch of survivalists just trying to get by. We have to work have to buy fuel we have to support our families. Its a shame so many of you forgot how this country was founded in the first place. There is no more unity, no ferocity. I dont even drive anymore since the gas hikes but then again I live in NYC and public transportation is abundant. So instead of using our own fuel we support our transit system and you know what that isnt helping the problem either. In order to make things work people will need to stop their lives, put everything on halt. Return to a society that supports one another and takes care of our neighbors. Only then will we see the error of our ways and perhaps maybe one day fuel prices will go down and we might be able to stop wars and throw out officials that does not meet the demands of the people. We are the only ones that have the power. This idea might be a bit unclear but take it for what it is. A rant from Mrgreen. But then again hopefully it might spur an idea or two and invoke some awareness to how bad situations can actually get. Some people might hope for the next election to change things. Nothing is going to change unless we change them.
By wanda on May 26, 2008 | Reply
PERSONALLY I DO THINK THAT IF EVERYONE WOULD TAKE A “REFUSE TO BUY GAS TODAY” DAY, IT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THEM. THIS WOULD BE ONE DAY THESE COMPANIES WOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE MAKING MONEY AND IT WILL HURT THEIR POCKETS…
By Paul White on Jun 1, 2008 | Reply
That’s right Wanda. Don’t buy your fuel today. Buy it tomorrow. That should show those lousy fuel companies!
By Jeremy on Jun 14, 2008 | Reply
Brian, you have stated something correct in saying that a mere repositioning of demand wont reduce cost and may actually increase cost due to speculated losses on the oil companies part. However, I disagree that lowering demand in general will cause the gas prices to go down since the oil companies will just raise prices again to get the same money they are used to out of fewer people buying less gas. I don’t believe the supply demand crap in this instance. 5 years ago they were saying that It would cost a meager 50 million to build a decent refinery,
mean while oil companies profit 40 BILLION a year. The supply shortage is just an excuse to continue raising the price. Meanwhile gas is only $2 per gallon in Mexico, and $4 per gallon here. What we need to do is get “TOGETHER” and put the smack down.