No Gas Purchases on May 15th. Will you participate? Comments are welcomed. Pass on to your friends.?

Question

Subject: Don't buy gas on May 15th, 2007

Hey, let's give it a try. It just might prove something! May I rrecommend that you mark your calendars (I am) so we won't forget!


NO GAS...On May 15th 2007
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 not to 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
$2,292,000,000.00 (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.

Answer 1

First, there WAS NO GAS OUT in April 1997. So the very start is wrong. No gas out, prices did not drop.

Next, let's take their 73 million American Internet users and if they say they have a MINIMUM of $30 per tank at $3/gallon, that would be a 10 gallon tank. So that would be 730 million gallons they claim will be affected on one day by this gas out. Now, the Energy Information Administration (a government firm that tracks statistics in this area) says the entire US uses on average 385 million gallons each day. So even if every single person who WAS going to buy gas on a given day decided not to, it would only be half of their claim. And those people with empty tanks aren't going to just leave the tank empty! They're going to fill up either the day before, or the day afterwards. So they're still going to buy it. The oil company doesn't care if it's a day earlier or a day later.

Heck, half the people would probably buy the day before rather than risk running out of gas, so they would be giving the oil company an early bonus.

Next, with all the complaining people do about $3/gallon in 2007 dollars, back in 1981 we were paying $3.20 per gallon in 2007 terms (i.e. adjusted for inflation). So we're still cheaper now!

Never mind how spoiled we are in the US. We're being pampered by our government because we drive gas-hogging SUVs and minivans! Most of the world drives fuel efficient cars and tries to use little gas. We don't care! We drive our cars even for short trips, we choose cars that are big and comfy rather than fuel efficient. And then we want our gas to be cheap so we can use a ton of it.

Here's what other countries pay for a gallon of gas, as of March 2005:

Netherlands $6.48
Norway $6.27
Italy $5.96
Denmark $5.93
Belgium $5.91
Sweden $5.80
United Kingdom $5.79
Germany $5.57
France $5.54
Portugal $5.35
Hungary $4.94
Luxembourg $4.82
Croatia $4.81
Ireland $4.78
Switzerland $4.74
Spain $4.55
Japan $4.24
Czech Republic $4.19
Romania $4.09
Andorra $4.08
Estonia $3.62
Bulgaria $3.52
Brazil $3.12
Cuba $3.03

So buy a hybrid or other fuel-efficient car! I grew up riding in a station wagon, not a giant SUV with DVD players and low gas mileage! Ride your bike when you can. Walk when you can. If we were all more fuel efficient, THAT would make a difference.

Answer 2

Stupid!

First, prices did no such thing in April 1997. Urban legend. These 1 day gas boycotts are proposed once or twice a year, and never make any difference.

But for argument's sake, let's assume 100% compliance. That means anyone who would have filled up on the 15th instead fills up on the 14th or 16th. So the gas companies have record sales on those two days, and none on the 15th. They are still selling every bit as much of the product. They are still getting the same dollar amount from you. What kind of message does that send?

Companies do everything by month and quarter. For the month and quarter, no difference is made. Even if the protest lasts a week, still no difference, as everyone tanks up before to get them through that week.

They've got us over a barrel, and the only way to "protest" the high price of gas, is to boycott using it. Take public transit or buy a Prius and teach those SOBs at Exxon, Iran and in Detroit.

If you really want to do something, than organize a day to NOT USE GAS. That actually will send a message to the oil companies and Middle Eastern oil countries. But you won't do that will you? Because you won't change your lifestyle. You would rather send some stupid symbolic message than do anything that might actually work, because it involves sacrifice.

I'm going to make a special point to fill all of my families 3 cars on the 15th to protest this stupid protest.

Answer 3

So, the good news is that it appears only 1 person posted anything other than the fact that this is a ridiculous ploy to help people feel better about themselves for not purchasing gas on a certain day. Thank goodness there ARE smart people out there. Too bad we can't get any smart people in politics ... we might actually make the world a better place.

Answer 4

I have a better idea. Why don't we all carpool everyday for a month. With 4 people to a car, that mean gas use would be down by 75% for that month. That would put a dent in the oil companies budget.

Answer 5

Come on people get real. Unless you change your driving habits you are going to buy the same amount of fuel. Either people are going to get fuel on the 14th or later on the 16th. Economic boycott does not work on the gasoline industry.
QUIT FALLING FOR INTERNET URBAN LEGANDS.
You are trying to say that people in the US would be buying 764,000,000 gallons of gasoline in one day. The US Department of Energy states the estimated gasoline usage is 384,700,000. So you are stating that we use twice of what the DOE says and that we buy gasoline everyday. I don't know about you but I gat mine about twice a week.

Answer 6

Good Lord, I thought all of the wind had already been taken out of this kind of illogical thinking. Those who don't buy gas on the 15th must surely buy gas on the 14th or 16th or near that. No affect on gas sales. Besides, as anyone already knows, those kinds of actions don't get enough compliance anyway.

Answer 7

I thought this had gone away?

It doesn't work...the oil companies A) wouldn't even notice it, and B) wouldn't even care if they did.

You may skip gas on May 15th....but you'd make up for it on the 16th.

You want to affect gas prices? Buy a hybrid, bike, walk to work, or take the bus.

Answer 8

No, because it's stupid and isn't going to accomplish anything. In the first place, this idea was born on idiotic "MySpace", where 80% of the members aren't even old enough to drive, much less own a car.

Answer 9

that's like saying don't buy groceries for one day. You will make it up the next day because u have to eat a certain amount just like u have to drive a certain amount to work. so u fill up th enight before, whats the difference unless everybody decides not to drive their car on May 15, then it might have some impact.

Answer 10

No gas up on May 15 is a good protests against abusive and greedy oil companies.