May 19 Gas Boycott. Will it really work - Video Games Forum

hypedave · #1 (**permalink**) 05-17-2004, 08:46 PM

Quote:

I got this in an email forward today:

Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 10:23 PM
Subject: Fw: Don't buy gas on May 19th!

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"!

How many times has something like this been put together, will it succeed or flop? will you participate or not? I think nothing will come out of it, it may hurt some local gas stations but not enought to make a impact. Those number are also bogus, why not go for a no gas for a week to boycott.

SwamP_ThinG · #2 (**permalink**) 05-17-2004, 09:13 PM

As commendable as it might be, i don´t think it will work. There´s just too many people who need to buy gas because of their jobs. If it were on a Sunday, it could have a better chance of doing some noticeble damage.
I just read the other day that oil is rising to heights never seen before. Experts predict it will rise to over 50 dollars a barrel! Over here in Portugal, the price of gas has risen twice in the last 10 days, and has risen 6 times since the year started. A litre of gasoline 95 octanes is now costing $1.4 euros.
The fuel market was liberalized, and now every gas company is rising prices one after the other.
Americans still have it easy, regarding fuel prices, but not for very long. And taking into account the fact that most vehicles in the States are 8 cylinder gas guzzling monsters, you guys are going to have a friggin nightmare on your hands!
Driving your car is no longer fun...
That´s why i drive a motorcycle most of the time! It´s cheaper millege.

Startup · #3 (**permalink**) 05-17-2004, 09:29 PM

I have to admit that I don't understand the big deal of the current gas prices. I read that the average gallon is somewhere around $2.00. The "normal" price is about $1.70. That is a difference of $.30 a gallon. Most small cars have ~15 gallon gas tanks. Even if the tank is empty, the extra costs will add to $4.50.

That is about the cost of one of those ridiculous Starbucks coffees that people insist on buying one or two times a day. So, we can bitch about gas prices as much as we want, but aren't there better things to complain about?

hypedave · #4 (**permalink**) 05-17-2004, 09:54 PM

@ Startup - I've gone from spending $15 a week for a full tank to roughly $30 a week!

Startup · #5 (**permalink**) 05-17-2004, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hypedave

@ Startup - I've gone from spending $15 a week for a full tank to roughly $30 a week!

Have gas prices doubled in Texas? If not, then you must be doing more driving now than you used to do.

hypedave · #6 (**permalink**) 05-17-2004, 10:15 PM

a tad bit but still,

yankeefan1970 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-18-2004, 05:25 AM

I don't think any sort of gas boycott is going to work, unless there's major support behind it from media outlets. Right now, it's more of an urban myth IMO. The email circulates around every summer it seems. Just as gas prices are starting to rise for the summer driving period.

If someone would have the gas boycott coincide with say 'national bike to work day', and get it in all the newspapers and on TV, I think it would stand a great chance of having people participate.

The real problem is whether or not it would work to bring down the price of gas. The answer to that is no. You might see a small blip, if the supplies were up there. But, the price would get right back up to where it is. One day is not going to make or break the gas supply and the pricing.

What could have a real impact would be for the state and federal government to repeal the gas tax while the price is so high. I don't have an exact number, but the combined gas tax runs somewhere around $.65 to $.75 a gallon! Repeal that for the summer, and gas prices are suddenly around $1.25 a gallon.

If you really want to have an impact on the price of gas, write your congressman and drop a note to GWB. Let them know that the consumer could be relieved of crippling gas prices if they'd repeal the tax for the summer.

Rob_G · #8 (**permalink**) 05-18-2004, 06:27 AM

I still don't understand where all this fuss is about. Gas prices are far higher in Europe. Gasoline costs 1,60 euro per litre in Holland. For 50 litres, which is almost the size of a fuel tank of a small car (ford focus or something), you pay 80 euro, which is 90-110 dollar (don't know the actual value of the dollar, and I'm too lazy to search).

You are all spoilt brats. ;)

hypedave · #9 (**permalink**) 05-18-2004, 06:29 AM

well I guess when you go from $1.23 per gallon to $1.95, then you bound to get upset right?

Rob_G · #10 (**permalink**) 05-18-2004, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hypedave

well I guess when you go from $1.23 per gallon to $1.95, then you bound to get upset right?

I understand. But realize that we pay 1.6 euro per litre, which is 1.6 * 3.785 = 6,06 euro per gallon. And a euro is worth $1.20. 6.06 * 1.20 = $7.27 /gallon. So excuse me if I don't feel sorry for you...

(I wonder why european cars are smaller than american ones....)

[edit] maybe I've been a little bit too enthousiastic. :dog: When I cycled past a gas station (no I don't have a car) today I saw the prices were about 1.30 euro per liter. That's 1.30/1.60*7.27= $5.91/gallon [/edit]