National Gas Boycott Day

I recieved the following information today, anyone else hear about this/supporting it? ...sounds kind of abrupt.

"IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES.

THEREFORE MAY 19TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR behind"DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE THAT DAY."

THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.

WAITING ON THIS ADMINISTRATION TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO?

REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO!

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE MAY 19TH A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

If it were just one day, the oil companies wouldn't be affected at all. The only person one day would hurt would be the gas station.

I heard about this happening a few years ago. Apparently, gas sales rose dramatically the day before and the day after. But I have no sources please don't kill me.

Oh shit. I think I damaged my optic nerve from rolling my eyes so hard.

I was talking to one of my friends about it, she seemed pretty ... determined about the entire situation. I was skeptical about the situtation, however I back her.

We pay by far less than almost all countries for gasoline prices people don't seem to care about that at all.

This e-mail has been going around for years, that "day" will never happen, nor will boycotting a certain company as another e-mail alludes to. I check http://www.miamigasprices.com for the best prices in my area, that's about the best you can do.

[Edited on May 15, 2004 by AceTracer]

It'd hardly be surprising. It's what I'd predict what would happen if you could actually get people to avoid buying on one given day.

i lack evidence as well, but i understood that to be the case. it would seem as though the public has the interest in sending a message, so long as it does not interfear or inconvenience their daily travels...

i'd like to see public transportation companies jump on this. while yes, it is a different type of consumerism, i think it would be great if even for just one day the vast majority of people either road the bus, the train or car pooled.
(or better yet even, a week)

If all the social and environmental costs of driving were included in the price of gas, it would cost something like $7 a gallon. That it costs so little (relative to other countries, that is) is a result of the subsidies and "hidden costs" of driving which the government, and our taxes, pay for.

[Edited on May 16, 2004 by alextheraven]

I can't wait for Toyota to make a decent hybrid truck.

I don't want to be smug but I don't own a car so I guess everyday is Gas Boycott Day for me.

me too! high five!

though I do ride the bus. but I think the buses in Santa Cruz run on CNG, not gasoline.

Heh, I was gonna say I never read anything in all caps

This will do nothing whatsoever. Don't waste your time.

If you really want to make a difference, use less oil on a long term basis, and convince your friends to do the same.

Drive less.
Take public transportation.
Turn your heat or air conditioning down.
Ride a bicycle, motorcycle or walk.
Trade your big-ass truck for a civic hatchback.
Turn off the lights and copmputer when you leave the house.
Insulate your house.

Of course, all this takes effort and persistance, something that a one-shot simple simon "protest" dosen't...

Why are you waiting for Toyota to make a truck? There are several trucks on the market that run on bio-diesel and natural gas. Even regular diesel is cheaper than gas these days.

Wellhead natural gas prices have quadrupled in recent years. It's really not a cheap automotive fuel anymore, relative to gasoline or diesel, esp. considering the cost of conversion and refueling infrastructure.

Well Ford is the big natural gas company and I don't care for thier trucks. Diesel isn't offered in enough gas station, and bio diesel has a host of problems to work out before it is a viable fuel source (exciting none the less), and I don't want to smell like I work at Mc Donalds after I drive.

Besides Toyota trucks kick everyone in the nuts.

what the fuck are you doing up? how about that beer?

So basically your answer is, "because American cars suck."

I guess you're entitled to that opinion, and I'm entitled to respectfully disagree with it.

lol. yeah.

what about those of us who need gas to do your jobs, also... the US's gas is still the lowest. it sucks, but we could be paying double or triple that in the UK and other countries.

i say we sould have a national "Boycot the Current Events Boards Day".

that would rock.

Snopes has an entry on this. The meat of the article is here:

"A boycott of a couple of brands wouldn't result in lower overall prices: Prices at all the non-boycotted outlets would rise due to the temporarily limited supply and increased demand, making the original prices look cheap by comparison. The shunned outlets could then make a killing by offering gasoline at its "normal" (i.e., pre-boycott) price or by selling off their output to the non-boycotted companies, who will need the extra supply to meet demand. The only person who really gets hurt in this proposed scheme is the service station operator, who has almost no control over the price of gasoline."

[Edited for spelling on May 16, 2004 by pomfelo]

[Edited on May 16, 2004 by pomfelo]

Well for my particular needs Toyota 4Runners and Tacomas fit the bill. Between the reliability, fuel economy, power, value, and off road capability; they beat anything American by quite a bit. Between the two models, I am on my fourth.

My company "car" alternates between a Ford 350 Trinitron Econoline Van and a Chevy 3500.

[Edited on May 16, 2004 by levezletoi]

Thanks for the input magical members of the SG boards.

Hybrid cars are interesting, especially when they fry rescue workers. It bothers me that most companies don't make them despite having enough technology instead taking payments from gas companies. But thats been going on for atleast 10 years now.

How many rescue workers have been seriously injured by shocks from hybrid vehicles?