One Day Gasoline Boycott

Does it make sense?

Published on May 8, 2007 By foreverserenity In Current Events

I've been getting a few Emails telling me about a boycott that is planned for May 15, 2007. The plan is that no one and I mean NO ONE is supposed to buy gasoline that day. Due to the rise in the price of gasoline, we the people are being taken advantage of and prices are unnecessarily high when they shouldn't be.

I must say when I received the first Email, I glanced at it and didn't really pay attention to it because I thought it was a hoax or something. Then I received it a second time, a third time yesterday. Well, there must be something to this I thought. Then I wondered to myself if doing this will make a difference to those holier-than-though-don't-seem-to-care-about-the-little-man idiots running their big oil refineries! Will our not getting any gas for one day hurt them in their pocket where it should hurt! Will they even take a glance in our direction when they see we all DID NOT pump gas on May 15? Does it make any sense at all to do this?

I heard a discussion briefly on the television but didn't have time to weigh in on it. Then I saw an article online regarding this very issue! So there IS some validity to this situation. Link

According to John Schoen in the article he's telling us "Why the one day 'boycott' won't work"! He's in fact calling this action 'irrational' and blames it on the Spring season when it seems people do stupid things! He's even given us, his readers a few numbers to compare and prove his point as to why it won't work. The main reason is that it won't make enough of a dent in the big oil makers pockets! He said that all this boycott would do is just shift the day when big gasoline would make more money. If we fill up the day before the boycott, lots of money will be made and if we do it the day after the boycott, even more money will be made! So you see just a shift in the days and the amount of sales!

But not only will it shift the days the big oil will make the most sales, the actual person who will be affected by our not pumping gas on May 15 would be the little guy retailer out there who has is own business! No not big oil refinery guys, just the little guy who is trying to feed his family! Mr. Schoen even broke it down for you to see how he arrived at this conclusion.

I have to say that I agree with him after reading his article. While most times these convenience stores ARE owned by companies that may not be as large as those big oil guys, they are part of an organized unit none the less. And even that one day boycott might not make too much of a dent in their pockets, they would just have some sort of special sale or raise the cost of buying a cup of coffee, a soda and perhaps one of those sandwiches some of us like to buy when stopping to get gas. Therefore, we the people would only reap the cost of higher prices! Either way we get screwed!

John Schoen suggests instead of a boycott we make May 15 “Fuel Economy Awareness Day”! We check our cars to make sure they are in good condition, we check the mileage we do and try to coordinate where we go so as to use less consumption of gas. We can also buy those hybrid cars that we hear so much about!

By doing this we will lessen our consumption of gas and thereby not needing to buy as much gas as we usually do, or as often as we usually do! This in time will make a bigger dent in the big oil pockets!

I definitely agree with him on this!

Comments

pseudosoldier

on May 08, 2007

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

Dr Guy

on May 08, 2007

It is becoming an annual thing. The first time I saw it was when Gas was closing in on $2/gal. But as the article states, it will not have an impact. Nor will "dont buy Exxon Mobile" ones either (except on the independant dealers selling that brand).

terpfan1980

on May 08, 2007

I'm on the 'it won't do squat' side of the argument over this.

Considering that people will just fill up with gas on the day before, the day after or something similar to that, it won't do a thing.

If people really want to affect the oil companies and gasoline prices, they need to park the car completely at least one day a month, and more like one day a week. Hmm, more on that in an article I'm brewing up now.

foreverserenity

on May 08, 2007

Thx Psuedo, I'll check out the link, afterwards...JU's keeps kicking me off!

You're right Doc and Terp, it likely won't. One thing though we all realise that we should change our habits!

foreverserenity

on May 08, 2007

Regarding the link, it probably is false, there's a possibility that some people will still do it anyway, out of frustration or defiance. I agree with the article I linked written by John Schoen and the suggestions he makes. Terp also has a good article with some good suggestions as well [see JU's front page]!

pseudosoldier

on May 09, 2007

It's just that it comes up, as Dr Guy pointed out, every year... The article that you reference in the text of your post addresses many of the same points as Snopes, and I'll give you kudos for at least researching this a bit before shooting off about it on JU.

Many people can't be bothered to even do that.

foreverserenity

on May 09, 2007

It's just that it comes up, as Dr Guy pointed out, every year...

Yes, I saw another link to it as well as what I read from your link too!lol!

and I'll give you kudos for at least researching this a bit before shooting off about it on JU. Many people can't be bothered to even do that.

Thx! I try to present the facts!

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!