A Day Without Buying Gas - How Likely are you to Participate in it?

Just out of curiosity (since I notice a 220 count post on the subject)?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

n/t

:hi:

:hi:

I urge people to call Exxon/Mobil corporation. They have an 800 number somewhere and tell them that you will not buy any Exxon/Mobil gas until they lower their price to $1.50 a gallon. Then switch to Citgo gasoline.

You can do this every day. Get as many Exxon/Mobil drivers to switch to Citgo and then call Exxon/Mobil to tell them why and that they will not buy from them until they lower their prices to $1.50 a gallon. Yes, Exxon/Mobil gives money to the Republican party.

Make those phone calls. Put the pressure on every day instead of the measly one gas out day.

No kidding? Neat! Got any pics or a link?

at all.

Anyway, I have a Prius and won't have to fill up for another couple of weeks.

For many of us, myself included, I need gas in order to do my job. I tried taking the bus to work and it took around 90 minutes for a drive that takes 15minutes for me to take. As much as I would like to save the environment I would also like to not spend 3 hours on something that could easily take 30 minutes to do.

Personally this kind of protest is a joke. I don't fill up my gastank everyday. Eventually I will have to fill up the gastank. This will hardly be a blip on the radar for the oil companies

I have to drive to go to work. I drive 200 miles round trip. If Id dont buy gas one day I buy twice as much the next. I cannot go two days without buying gas. If I could find a job closer to home I would. If I could afford a house closer to the office I would buy one. I can't do either

And of course there would be the extra benefit of getting excercise.

Sorry but I had to say it.

Try packing for a day at the office, then riding on a bike.

I have no idea where you work but with a little creativity it can generally be done.

I live ten miles from work over country roads. I report to work at 4:30 am.

And there are no shower facilities where I am located and in my job I need to maintain a professional appearance.

Plus the concept that at any given time there could be showers and especially electrical storms (which I am petrified of electrical storms) - I don't think so. Perhaps if I was in a non-professional business where my appearance doesn't count that could be a concept. But as far as I'm concerned your argument is not a valid one, not just for me but for many folks here at DU. I do my part - I drive a car with great gas mileage and I buy my gas from either Citgo or Hess.

unless you can pedal 30mph for 30 minutes straight.

I don't know many people that can go 15 miles in 15 minutes, along with parking the car, stopping at red lights, etc.

For the record, I average 12 mph without exerting myself or sweating, and I never have to look for a parking place :)

would open up to people on Bikes.

Bryant

that anyone with a 15-minute drive commute could do it on a bike in 30...

my mistake.

I agree that it's not going to make even a slight dent in Big Oil's profits, but if everyone skips out on buying gas on the 15th, it will at least work as a symbolic protest.

More effective economically (at least it saves me some bucks) is to use van pools, public transportations, bikes or feet instead of cars (whenever possible - I know that many people here have absolutely no choice but to drive to work) and to bitch to your Congresscritters asking them to demand answers from the oil executives.

I would gladly participate to make a point, but I hope to participate in something more meaningful. I have signed up to purchase one of the first SmartForTwo's imported (http://smartusa.com ) so I'll likely only buy gas once/quarter after that!

that you never get in an accident with it.

Two thumbs up to all posters who reply that this boycott is a hoax. Not buying gasoline on one day and then buying it on the day before or the following day is not a boycott.

Not everyone can do without gasoline. Folks who need it should go ahead and buy it.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Here come the flames.

We're working our way past two days a week, even with deliveries we have to make. It CAN be done, by sitting down and thinking what is REQUIRED as opposed to what you would LIKE to do on a whim. The problem is, people do not want to stop and think about what they are doing to just waste gas. Everyone is afraid of reviewing their own actions, of possibly sacrificing something in order to send a message. Or even cut back their own expenses. Perhaps they will find that they are, in some sense, just as wasteful and goofy as the people they point fingers at.

We always say the american public doesn't know how to sacrifice -- well, do WE know how to do it? Honestly now -- do WE?

I'm not sure how your suggestion makes sense.

This is a dumb protest that has been debunked too many times. Personally I just think it makes us progressives look silly everytime someone suggests it (hell I think it's probably some right-winger that puts the idea out there because he/she believes that all the progressives will jump on board with this dumbass idea making us look more dumbass).

There are clearly many better options we could do.

My point is that we need to get out of the mindset of "let's all protest by not buying gas on such and such a day" not JUST because it won't work, but also because people will waste alot of time saying WHY it won't work. Why argue over this at all. It's another "herding cats" argument.

What we ALL need to do on a personal level is to review our OWN daily driving habits, and set personal goals to cut back. You can't change the world, but you CAN change your own *world*. That way you don't have others dictating what to do, but you yourself can find a way to protest by cutting back in your own oil use. And if everyone did that, we'd use less gas.

because it does make us look pretty stupid everytime we suggest doing this protest. I wish folks would wise up about it.

beautiful. I'm wise now.

Someone came up with the idea of doing the boycott and then everyone on the left jumps on the idea thinking "Ooo we'll show them" Only thing is this is like the umpteenth time we've had the "Don't fill up your gastank" day and everytime we post countless articles that this protest does nothing to affect business and yet somehow, someway the protest comes up again.

Someone had to start it

Since then he's forwarded an extraordinary amount of info (for him) on other actions.

He 'started' me in considering participating. I don't think we have to directly 'affect business' to make participation meaningful; no more so than any protest has to have a direct impact to make it significant or effective. I think it will be as successful as the numbers of folks participating can manage to realize their own motivations, and follow through on their own manner of effecting that participation.

Went to a protest recently. Couldn't march because of a foot injury, but I did what I could where I managed to stand. Did my part. We didn't manage to 'end the war' as the promoters advertised, but I'd like to think that in doing my part in the protest, in the manner that suited me, I helped make whatever difference I could toward the overall goal of ending the occupation.

With a protest where we all gather together, hold signs and chant - there is a visualization. Usually at least 1 or 2 pictures get into the press and the rest of the world sees us making a difference. Perhaps it gives courage to others to speak up and get involved.

There is no visualization or quanitification of who didn't buy gas on any given day. Perhaps if the protest was "Never buy gas from Company X" - eventually you might see the profits starting to hurt with 'Company X' since one can get gas from other companies instead. But the thing is - we always need gas. Perhaps one or 2 people might feel really good about not buying gas on the 15th but neither the public nor the corporate world will notice a blip on the screen

Passing the pumps on fumes so you can gas up the next day, thus engaging in a one-day-a-week-boycott does not save any fuel.

Actually finding ways to lower consumption does.

I only live about 7 miles from work and have an 18.5 gallon tank in my car. If I only go to and from work and some errands in the immediate area to my home, a tank lasts me two weeks. If I have to drive farther during that time, I may have to fill up in 10 days or so.

Why just make execs giggle at foolishness?

Cut down on consumption ALL YEAR

10 days or so. Therefore 90% of the days I do not buy gas.

This is why not buying gas on one particular day is a STUPID idea.

The only way to "boycott" is to use less gas EVERY day.

Cheers
Drifter

it's stupid and has been debunked a million times.
If you want to make a difference alter your habits.

in fact, folks who are compelled to participate are likely already doing other things to make a difference . . . like me. This is an ADDITIONAL effort, not the only and last one.

I never have, I just don't need one. Everything I need is obtainable in walking distance.

participate in that sort of thing all the time--I use less gas. I carpool, I combine trips, I walk if it ain't too far, I grab lifts, give lifts, and I think before I turn the key.

Here's the SNOPES reference, for the doubters: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

It'll be nice not having to wait, as I often have to.

If I don't buy gas on Tuesday....so what? I'll need it on Monday or Wednesday instead. So will almost everyone else. I can't park my car on Tuesday. I need to drive to work. What choice do I have? There is no regular public transportation where I live. This "boycott" is a joke. The oil companies won't lose a nickel and they're just laughing at this stupid idea. Want to really make a difference? Turn off the AC or lights or PC or TV or whatever else uses petroleum based energy and that actually might have an economic effect. Of course, one can't expect Americans to give up ther creature comforts for 24 hours, can one?

I try to fill up only once a week and will reduce my driving to make it work. so far so good.

Angina is green, trust me, cough cough..

First because it's a dumbass bullshit idea that will not do one iota of good. The only people it is possible - and that unlikely - to harm - is small mom and pop retailers who are dependent on short term cash flow. Even if every single person in the nation bought into this it would not trouble the oil companies one tiny bit. Second because I don't care if it did do any good - I will as a matter of principle never go along with anything at all contained in a chain email just like I will never buy from phone or door to door solicitors, because I do not want to encourage the loathsome practice.

Now if everyone - or even enough people - stopped DRIVING for a day it still wouldn't hurt big oil but it may get a flicker of attention. Even that - 100% participation mind, both commercial and personal - would only be <0.3% revenue reduction, whereas not buying gas for a day is simply revenue shifting. Since this is an unachievable hope for a minuscule effect (are all the truckers gonna take the day off? Bus companies?) it's a non-starter too.

Buy LESS gas, a lot less, all the time, if you want to make this point.

Bryant

good god, I've seen these things spring up since the days of chain letters and Esso gasoline.

There are many ways to strike terror in the hearts of the energy establishment. Organizing boycotts, especially one-day boycotts, only makes them titter with laughter.

They titter with laughter so hard that they fall of their chairs, bump their heads and get amnesia.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

Hey, it's better than Nixon's secret plan to end the Vietnam war. Give it that much.

I saw a joke and I made it; I realize that joking is not in harmony with the high minded ideals that DU prides itself on.

I do have an opinion on whether or not a Gas Boycott is likely to accomplish anything or not, and that opinion is that it will not. That said I'm genuinely curious as to where my fellow DUers stand, and I am willing to be convinced otherwise (this isn't like a boycott to get Rush Limbaugh off the air where my objections are moral; I'm open to the idea, just that it seems like a symbolic way to do something without actually accomplishing anything).

I find it interesting that so few seem to be in the middle. And mildly disappointing that only 4% think this poll is bullshit.

Bryant

I really thought the audience for this site was a bit more savvy, frankly.

Anyone who believes ANY crap they get in a chain letter or email, and then forwards it on to all of their 'friends' (half of whom have redirected the stuff they spew to the JUNK folder) is a few bricks shy of a load.

"Gee, let me go check my mail, Bill Gates should be sending me a check ANY day now because I forwarded an email to a hundred of my closest friends!!!" :eyes:

There's always a 'lowest common denominator' I guess...!

Yep, I remember "To Hell With Shell!"

'twas a photocopied rant on a company bulletin board. I was pretty young and impressionable at the time, but even then I thought it was a stupid idea.

I just can't afford to buy gas!

It will be because I don't need Gas

The only problem I have with boycotts like this is that it seems that people are encouraged to buy a large amount of gas on another day. In my opinion buying gas in large amounts on another day just cancels out not buying on a particular day. I guess a person could decided to fill up their gas tank a day or two ahead of the planned boycott and I guess that would work. However, the last time I heard about one of these gas boycotts, which was just about two years ago, someone was telling people to buy a large amount of gas on the day before the boycott so they would not have to buy gas on the boycott day. It seems to me that the boycott would not work in that the increase in gas sells the day before the boycott would cancel out the losses on the day of the boycott.

I think a better idea would be to encourage people to change the type of light bulbs they use in their houses and offices. In addition, it would be good to encourage companies like Home Depot and Lowes to give away the engery saving lightbulbs and the inform people that the companies are giving away the light bulbs. In my area Home Depot gave away the new energy saving light bulbs. They were advertising that they would give away 1,000,000 light bulbs. I am not sure if it was just the stores in my area or if it was nationwide. However, they did it, but I did not get any of the bulbs in that I read the advertisement too late. In addition, I think people should be encourage to buy as many energy saving appliances for there homes and businesses as possible. I think that would do more to bring down the price of gas. This could also be seen as a real protest of high gas prices in that people are doing something to lower the prices.

I plan to check the air in my tires that day, and urge others to do the same.

If EVERYONE did that, the amount of fuel we saved over the following several days would be huge.

Basic car maintenance, especially checking tire pressure and keeping optimal, will do far more than these silly "boycotts" that aren't boycotts.

If everyone did enough to sqeeze another 5% out of their mileage, the oil companies would feel it big-time.

It's a good one, too. Everyone should do that, every month.

Do I fill up the day before or the day after? It wouldn't make a difference to not buy one day, it would be better to change your habits.
I combine trips and do not drive anywhere I don't have to. The only way to send a message is to use less gas overall.

This type of boycott has absolutely no impact on the market at all - if I need fuel on that day, I'll buy it.

I'll fill up on the 14th. I'll take my 12mph lift van out on 285 and just go round and round until I get close to empty and then go home on the 15th. Then I'll fill up again on the 16th.

That aughta show those bastards at Exxon. :evilgrin:

will take me well beyond that day

But then again, I drive a car that CONSUMES less gas

And that is THE POINT, use less

So I will go and gas up ANOTHER DAY

They will still make their money

:)

I don't need to drive much, and do what I can to avoid it unless necessary. The chances I would have to purchase gas on the designated day would be very small.

Having said that, I don't think a day without buying gas would accomplish anything.

edit: just saw the 'participate by accident' option and voted that way.