For those of you who participated in the gas boycott today, thanks for trying but I hate to say I told you so.
Despite today’s “National Gasoline Boycott,” which was intended to force gas stations to drop their prices, the national average gas price jumped to $3.13, which is two cents higher than yesterday’s price.
As the mass email stated, today, May 15, was supposed to be the day that we, the American consumers, banded together to take nearly $3 billion out of the pockets of “Big Oil.” Unfortunately, it appears that not only has this idea not worked, but it seems “Big Oil” was able to take even more money from us.
By the way, today’s average gas price is also a new record high and 20 cents (or roughly 7%) higher than the national average gas price was exactly one year ago.
As of Tuesday evening, there are now 35 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that are reporting average gas prices above $3 per gallon. South Carolina has the lowest average gas price at $2.86 per gallon, while California has the highest average gas price at $3.43.
Anyway, hopefully now it’s become painfully clear that the only way that we’re going to lower gas prices is by lowering our actual demand for gas – not by enacting some useless gimmick. Be a better driver, drive a more fuel efficient vehicle and, most importantly, drive less – then maybe you’ll see some savings at the pump.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Midwest USA is trying to challenge Cali it seems. Gas prices shot up 40 cents yesterday to $3.49 most stations. I first expected to see that there was a major oil catastrophe that shot prices over $80/bbl; but there was nothing but a $0.79 increase. In fact, oil prices have been more or less stable during a recent set of price jumps (totaling 80 cents or so locally). And now that oil refineries are starting to increase their production, oil stocks were able to rise [last week] for the first time in months. And yet gas prices continue to jump.
Correction to last post: it was gasoline stocks that rose for the first time in 12 weeks, not oil stocks. Also, there was another increase in gasoline stocks this week. Perhaps prices at the pump will begin to stop their rapid ascent.
I agree with Brian. Lifestyle changes are the only way we are going to save gas. Petroleum has permeated our culture so much that a one day boycott, though a start, does seem silly. Lets not forget that these guys are in it strictly for profit. Does anybody know why big oil claims they produce oil when in reality they only extract it?
recovering oil addict,
The oil companies “produce” oil in a strictly economic sense. They only extract the oil, but the extraction is not something that an individual consumer is likely to do (it has been done, though). They introduce it into the market.
I do concur that minor budget adjustments only add to the problem. By simply getting used to high gas prices, we become susceptible to a future streak of price hikes.
I hate to think the American people have become so self centered they can’t see whats happening to them. Gas prices are just one issue, allthough a big one that faces us today. We are a country in crisis about to lose what has been given to us by our forefathers. We no longer lead the world as the industrial giant we were just 50 years ago. We are no longer the agriculture leader we once were until a few short years ago. If we had to defend ourselves as we did in World War II we would lose because we can’t produce the materiel needed. This is because we are a consumer nation not a producer. A consumer has nothing to sell and therefor goes broke.
The only way out is a national strike and gas is the catalyst. I sent the following to Mr. Schoen at MSNBC as a reply to his comments on the gas boycott
Mr. Schoen,
I read you article with great interest. It’s amazing how facts can be manipulated to justify a point of view. You diferentiate between oil producers, refiners, wholesalers and retailers. You do this to say the profits are spread out accross a wide array of instatutions. In fact most are the same businesses. BP is a producer, refiner, wholesaler and retailer as is Marathone, Exon-Mobil and our favorite Venizualon.
You are right that to make an impact the people would have to basically go on strike and refrain from conducting any business, which, means no work, no going to the store, no cutting grass no vacation trip no church. In other words shut down the country. this would get the attention of a lot more people than just the oil companies. Manufacturing (automotive etc), retail (Sears, K Mart, Target), wholesale, distribution, and government at all levels.
It is not un-precidented in our history but probably unlikely in todays me generation society.
James C. Capehart
I did not see these e-mails calling for a boycott of gas on this date. But you were right about it having no chance of working. The reason being that we are dependent upon gas. if we need it we are going to fill up. Having said that there is a way to boycott that will have dramatic effect. If you are one that really want to make a change I hope you will help spread the message. We should boycott one company and its affiliates at a time, for one month at a time. Beginning July for the month of July boycott all services of Exxon-Mobile. Buy nothing from them. No Gas, lottery tickets, beverages, snacks, etc.. Take you business to the mini marts and small stations.. In Aug we boycot Texaco-Cheveron. Sept is Conoco-Philips.
This way we still fill our tanks while sending a big message to big oil.
If the truckers decide not to roll just imagine what would happen. If all the gas hauling companies don’t deliver fuel we the commuter wouldn’t go anywhere. We need to have the trucking companies on our side as well, not just the gas haulers but all trucking companies. The trucking industry can shut this country down. Just think what is shipped on trucks every day. You see them on your way to work and the way home. Trucks do it all!!
We the american people need to band together to make this work. We need to take back the government as well. What happened to we the people for the people? Also home of the free and brave. We are still brave but we are not free because we let things get out of control. The government tells us what to do instead of the other way around. A boycott in fuel will let them know we are tired of being taken advantage of and some relief is needed! Its just not gas prices at the pump its home heating oil as well people couldn’t afford to buy fuel oil and they froze to death in their houses, others used kerosene heaters that burned the house down and took the lives of the people within. People are dying because of the high cost of fuel. Somehting needs to be done!
I don’t understand how all this works with the price of oil, but does it have to be so high that people have to die because they can’t afford it?
Try a selective boycott.
Refuse to do business with EXXON/MOBILE today.
Do not buy their gas or diesel.
Do not use their convenience stores.
Do not deliver to them.
Do not accept employment from them.
Return their credit cards with a message that their products are to expensive.
A selective boycott can be effective if enough people participate.
When their gas evaporates in the storage tanks and the milk sours in the convenience store refrigerators THEY WILL LISTEN or their replacements will.
If the storage tanks are empty and the convenience store refrigerators are empty
THEY WILL LISTEN or their replacements will.
When or if EXXON/MOBILE is gone from the scene choose the next largest oil company and continue until the hundred million dollar executives get the idea that consumers can and will control the market place! A golden parachute is too heavy to break a fall.