Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

[nforcer06164]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

Sad, really. It won't even make a dent. In fact, I can see this making them increase the price even higher.

Can you explain the logic behind this, please? Because it's going right over my head.

The only justification for raising the price would be to make up for lost revenues. But, these companies are making massive profits every day. A price hike would only make people buy gas less.

I for one would stop driving my car as often as I do if it gets up around, say, $3.50. I and my family simply cannot afford the greed and gouging. The prices around here are ridiculous, almost .60 more than the rest of the country, and it's not even as bad as the city. This will make a statement, and I think I can live without filling my car for a day.

[Squeek]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

Spite.

That's how.

Oil prices are a monopoly. They can make something up to put the blame of the price hike, then go ahead and do whatever they want with it.

Hooray for elasticity. Nobody will buy gas less. Take economics. Gas prices are the one thing people care about, but can't do anything about. It's not like McDonalds starts charging $4 for a burger, so you go across the street to Burger King. No. It's Exxon charges $4.50. Mobil charges $4.50. Sunoco charges $4.50. BP charges $4.50. Shell charges $4.50.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elasticity_%28economics%29

One typical application of the concept of elasticity is to consider what happens to consumer demand for a good (for example, a product) when prices increase. As the price of a good rises, consumers will usually demand a lower quantity of that good, perhaps by consuming less, substituting other goods, and so on. The greater the extent to which demand falls as price rises, the greater the price elasticity of demand. However, there may be some goods that consumers require, cannot consume less of, and cannot find substitutes for even if prices rise (for example, certain prescription drugs). Another example is oil and its derivatives such as gasoline. For such goods, the price elasticity of demand might be considered inelastic.

[JasonKey]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

Seriously, do people expect this to work?

Sad, really. It won't even make a dent. In fact, I can see this making them increase the price even higher.

Oil is a monopoly and it will not be toppled any time soon. There's nothing we can do to stop it unless we all decide to take bicycles everywhere. They crush innovation and prevent alternate fuels from ever existing. They skirt the law and blame the most minor things for price hikes.

Ah ok .. ya, thats the ticket .. lets do nothing. Come on ... I am not even a massive activist in any way. Past that, I am pretty damn conservative politically. But something like this is simplicity in message delivery.

I think even the critics can handle it .. its just doing nothing.

Its not like I am suggesting something like what the Germans doing, where they are wrapping a glacier to keep it from melting )

[g4z33b0]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

You guys know this does absolutely nothing right? The places you buy your gas from will just make more money on May 14th and 16th. GAH Why do I miss these thread? My post would have been so much more worthwhile if it hadn't already been posted. Oh well.

Oil is such a demanded product that no matter how high the prices go, people will still buy it because it is so necessary to everyday life.

[Squeek]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

Ah ok .. ya, thats the ticket .. lets do nothing. Come on ... I am not even a massive activist in any way. Past that, I am pretty damn conservative politically. But something like this is simplicity in message delivery.

I think even the critics can handle it .. its just doing nothing.

Its not like I am suggesting something like what the Germans doing, where they are wrapping a glacier to keep it from melting )

If you want to do something more productive to hurt the oil industry, invest in a bicycle and persuade your friends to do the same.

[nforcer06164]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

Spite.

That's how.

Oil prices are a monopoly. They can make something up to put the blame of the price hike, then go ahead and do whatever they want with it.

Hooray for elasticity. Nobody will buy gas less. Take economics. Gas prices are the one thing people care about, but can't do anything about. It's not like McDonalds starts charging $4 for a burger, so you go across the street to Burger King. No. It's Exxon charges $4.50. Mobil charges $4.50. Sunoco charges $4.50. BP charges $4.50. Shell charges $4.50.

Squeek, are you aware that price gouging is, under certain circumstances, a felony?

Ridiculous gas prices could turn into anarchy. The government does not like anarchy. A rise in gas prices can incite a panic that nobody in charge wants to deal with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_gouging

Price gouging is illegal during an emergency. Could price gouging itself, especially in the case of our precious oil, be a national emergency? I think so. And, it's only being incited by our very own corporations. The government could step in at any point and end this, provided the gouging is found to be breaching law.

Instead of that happening (and we know that could very well happen and it could be ugly), why don't we do something small that can potentially help us all?

[stretchypanda]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

If you want to do something more productive to hurt the oil industry, invest in a bicycle and persuade your friends to do the same.

QFT/E/ETC.

THIS is where you get them. Like I said, one day of not buying gasoline will get all those facebook twits a mention on CNN and not much else. Oil companies might release a statement saying they appreciate the input of their customers and are doing everything they can to save us more money.

If you want to make an impact on an industry as huge and powerful as the oil industry, you can't just rebel for a day. You have to resolve to completely reduce your consumption of their product, which means buying a bike or utilizing public transportation.

What's really amusing is that the kids making all the facebook groups are the same kids who drive from their dorm to class because it's "too far to walk".

[JasonKey]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

You guys know this does absolutely nothing right? The places you buy your gas from will just make more money on May 14th and 16th. GAH Why do I miss these thread? My post would have been so much more worthwhile if it hadn't already been posted. Oh well.

Oil is such a demanded product that no matter how high the prices go, people will still buy it because it is so necessary to everyday life.

Don't confuse this with DOING something )

Look at this from as esoteric message.

Come on folks, don't make me open a thread about this in critical thinking )

[JasonKey]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

QFT/E/ETC.

THIS is where you get them. Like I said, one day of not buying gasoline will get all those facebook twits a mention on CNN and not much else. Oil companies might release a statement saying they appreciate the input of their customers and are doing everything they can to save us more money.

If you want to make an impact on an industry as huge and powerful as the oil industry, you can't just rebel for a day. You have to resolve to completely reduce your consumption of their product, which means buying a bike or utilizing public transportation.

What's really amusing is that the kids making all the facebook groups are the same kids who drive from their dorm to class because it's "too far to walk".

Stretchy, but that IS the point. Who is measuring the results past the publicity it generates?

To say its useless to even discuss it is taking more effort on your part than not showing up at the pump ...

Don't you get that this is a "do nothing" move?

[theinsomniacnimrod]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

I drive a bicycle. Wouldn't be buying gas that day anyways...

And if people don't buy gas on the 15th, they will still need to either buy gas before or refuel shortly afterward - they aren't changing their consumption of fuel or the oil companies' profit in any way. And as for the publicity - people do not need to be told that oil prices are high - it's an obvious thing. We've been noticing the prices for how many years now, and until we actually find a solution we are not doing anything except complaining...

[stretchypanda]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

See, I'm probably not going to buy gas May 15th, because I'll be at home, and I won't need gas because I'll have nowhere to go.

I'm almost certain that except for the publicity that is being generated, it's going to be a normal business day for gas stations.

[meno_rocks123]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

I can easily participate. No vehicle. But uh.. is this solely an american thing? I mean, gas prices are terrible in Canada as well - probably worse than america.

Not worse. Gas is almost $1.20 here and that's ~$3.75? a gallon. America has always had better gas prices. In fact, it is cheaper to drive 40km to the US and fill up there, literally.

[GuidoHunter]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

JASONKEY
Beware the ides of May.

EXXON
What man is that?

BP
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of May.

EXXON
Set him before me; let me see his face.

MOBIL
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Exxon.

EXXON
What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

JASONKEY
Beware the ides of May.

EXXON
He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

------------------

nForcer, it's not price gouging if the oil companies aren't setting the prices. Also, it's not necessarily a bad thing in emergencies.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[FluorescentArmy]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

If we don't pump for one day, that puts the gas company down X number of dollars. This causes them to raise the prices so they can make this X amount of money back.

[PsYcHoZeRoSk8eR]

Re: Don't pump gas on May 15th ....

I have no car, no money... no problem. I've been helping this cause ever since I got into college