Thursday, May 3, 2007

Show Big Oil Who's Boss!

I got the most fantastic email yesterday! Why didn't somebody think of this before?!?

The Austin paper indicated that prices could go as high as $4 per gallon later this year....read on

DON'T PUMP GAS ON MAY 15TH!!

In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,00000 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil Companies' pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

If you agree (which I can't see why you wouldn't) resend this to all of your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"

I'LL BE PARTICIPATING... HOPE ALL OF YOU SEE THE IMPORTANCE AND DO THE SAME!

Actually, somebody did think of it before... this notion gets recycled every year. (Frankly, I'm surprised that it was mailed on; the senders are bright, educated folks. They sent it to me and probably 50 other people.)

The idea is loosely based on the theory of supply and demand. Which is actually more than theory - it works.

Trouble is... if you top off your tank on the 14th so you can boycott the 15th, or wait 'til the 16th to fill up, have you truly affected demand? The notion is ludicrous!

I wrote back to my friends: "I'm with you! I won't buy gas on the 15th... or the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, etc. I'll ride my bike instead!"

If the 73 million "American members currently on the internet network" (grin) all quit buying gas for a year, indeed they'd affect the demand side. I wish they'd join me! But one day ain't gonna make it.

3 comments:

Apertome said...

Exactly, how many people who don't buy gas on that one day are actually going to reduce their fuel consumption? Probably none of them, they'll avoid buying gas for one day by buying it earlier or later, feel good about themselves, and go back to life as usual.

Jamie said...

The best comment I've heard on this idea is that the letter shouldn't say "don't buy gas", but rather "don't use gas." That might actually cause a ripple that someone might pay attention to.

Smudgemo said...

Word.