Has anyone heard of Don't pump gas on May 15th Day?

Question

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 and it is rumored that by the end of summer they will sore to over $4.00 a gallon.

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.

Please forward this to everyone you know so we can make a difference!

Answer 1

We could try it!

Answer 2

Yes, I've heard about it, and it won't do a thing.

First, gas prices did not drop by 30 cents a gallon in 1997. I was buying gas at that time, and I don't remember it. Plus, if the "gas out" had caused prices to drop by 30 cents a gallon, why was it not tried, again? Do you think people would have said, "Gee, that worked great! Let's never do it, again!". Does that make sense to you? The 30 cents a gallon price drop is a myth.

Second, so what if we don't spend 3 billion dollars for gas on May 15th? We have to buy the gas sometime, and if we don't buy it on the 15th, it only means we'll be buying more on the other days to make up for it. It will all even out, in the end, so why would, or should, the oil companies care?

You want to make oil companies sit up and take notice? Do it by reducing your gas consumption permanently. A 10% drop in consumption over the next year or two would DEFINITELY make Exxon sit up and take notice. Get rid of your SUV and buy a high-mileage car. Do something that will really make a difference, because one day of not buying gas will not do it.

Answer 3

OK, let's suppose that everyone tries this. How does it work? Will you fill up your car the day before, so the gas station gets your money earlier? Or just wait a day, so he gets it the day after? Either way - the gas station, and ultimately big oil, gets your money.

If you want to make a difference, start carpooling, riding public transportation, walking, or riding your bike. Not buying gas isn't enough - REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF GAS YOU USE IN A YEAR is the way to get their attention. But most Americans are too addicted to driving big, bloated SUVs to make this change.

It's a nice idea - but it won't work. Sorry...

Answer 4

Not this crap again. Listen, even if this plan did take $3 billion out of the oil company's pockets (which it won't because people will just buy their gas the day before or the day after), the only thing that will do is make gas price rise more. If they're losing money they sure as hell aren't gonna drop the price.

Focus your energy in a more useful fashion, encourage people to car pool or ride their bike to work, this BS "Don't Pump" day is hair-brained and pointless.

Answer 5

We all need a little common sense. We cannot only not fill up that day we also need to try and car pool, take the bus, rather than running your errands that day, use it to relax and watch a good movie at home. If you need to run to the store and it's close enough take a walk if you can. Everyone is answering this question downing the idea and not thinking of ways to make it really make a difference.

Answer 6

I have heard of this and as I will be participating and encouraging others to participate, maybe we should all focus on consolidating trips, car pooling and looking to other ways to conserve for the other 364 days of the year. Let's remember, until oil companies and the politicians (both sides of the aisle) see that their is declining profit and /or demand for their product they will continue to ignore (for the most part) alternatives and focus all of their efforts toward maximizing oil revenue. Americans have done this before and we can do it again. There are a lot of farmers in the midwest and southeast now that raise grapes and soy instead of tobacco. That has happend in the last ten years becasue the demand and market for cigarettes declined sharply even before municipalities and states began banning smoking. Its all about supply and demand.

Answer 7

What an utterly pointless undertaking.

Unless you actually reduce your driving, you'll need just as much gas. Which means you'll have to buy the same gas on the 14th or the 16th. And so there is absolutely zero effect on the oil companies.

If you want to hurt middle eastern oil interests (and all those countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE which support terrorists), then you need to buy Citgo, which is only from Venezuela.

Answer 8

This is a Hoax and does not work.

All those people will still need to buy the gas which will be used on that day, so there will not be any dent to gas companies.

If you really want lower prices - what did the Jr Senator from NY say (yes he is a Dem) - oh yeah - BUILD MORE REFINERIES.

Check Snopes on this false story.

Answer 9

Even better, Starting in the month of June, There will be a boycott of each major oil company, one at a time ,for a month each.
So for the whole month of June *Please do not buy Exxon/Mobil gasoline*.
The company for July is in the process of being selected and will be announced in early June.

PLEASE participate and pass the message along to as many others as you can, the more who participate ,the more effective this can be!

Answer 10

there is a incredible correlation between extreme gasoline expenses and incentives to locate alternates. extreme gasoline expenses are a powerful element, if expenses are low, there'll no incentive to come again up with substitute potential materials. you're able to be encouraging human beings to assist differences to rules in miles in step with gallon performance or subsidies to industries merchandising potential effective delivery.

Answer 11

This protest doesn't work.

The only way for this to work is for a lot people to stop buying gasoline altogether for a long period of time. Gasoline takes a long time to "go bad." Delaying things by a day won't change anything.

Please check my source.