Every once in a while I will get an e-mail that basically says, lets stick it to the oil companies, or take a walk on the green side, don't buy gas next Tuesday (or what ever day). How can not buying gas on any given day accomplish either of the previously mentioned goals when gas is still being consumed? Don't you think it would be better to have a walk to work day, ride your bike to work day, car-pool day, or take a bus to work day, so less gas is being consumed?
2007-05-10 09:18:01 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Green Living
I agree. A no drive day once a week or ever other week. That would save alot of gas
2007-05-10 09:27:48 · answer #1 · answered by martywdx 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
banner,
I work for a major oil company making sure gas stations around the country don't run out. People not buying gas for a day does nothing, because all it does is delay a tiny fraction of the normal daily demand. My major market is Chicago and I push about 1 million gallons a day, every day. The only time it ever slows down is major holidays, like Thanksgiving weekend (although the Wednesday before is pretty busy!!) and Christmas.
People not buying fuel for a day will have NO effect on prices, no matter what anyone tells you. Gasoline is a global commodity and the oil companies don't control prices, the world market controls prices. We are in competition with India, China, France, England, Japan and every other country where people use petoleum products.
Here's why: We use every drop we produce, then we import gasoline. Because we import, we're subject to the global market. If prices spiked up in one region of the world (let's say Europe), then what would happen is all the oil in the world would be worth what the Europeans are willing to pay. Don't include taxes and other add-ons that make their gas so expensive. I'm talking the landed (delivered to the station) cost of gasoline. If American producers could make more money by transporting it to and selling it in another country, you'd better believe they'd do it. This of course, would drive up our prices even higher.
When the Saudis refine oil and sell us gasoline, it's because we're willing to pay as much as the other people of the world are willing to pay. Otherwise, they'd sell that gasoline somewhere else. It's about the money.
Your thought that using less is the only true way to drive down prices. Even if nobody else participates, you're doing your part to save energy and you're also saving money by not having to buy so much energy for your own use. I ride my bike whenever I can, go to the closest store for quick trips and try to combine as many errands as possible when I do drive.
Many of my coworkers ( at the oil company, remember) ride public transportation to work. We all believe in doing our part. What's funny is that our company pays us to use public transportation. To hear other people, you'd think they were paying us to buy the least efficient cars we can find and all ride into work solo.
Good luck with your conservation efforts. I'll be rooting for you!
2007-05-10 09:52:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
No.
The premise behind this boycott is inherently flawed, because consumers' not buying gasoline on one particular day doesn't affect oil companies at all. The "gas out" scheme doesn't call upon people to use less gasoline, but simply to shift their date of purchase and buy gas a day earlier or a day later than they usually would. The very same amount of gasoline is sold either way, so oil companies don't lose any money.
The only way to hurt the oil companies is to use less oil, like you suggest, by riding a bike, car pooling, mass transit, and so on. If we really want to hurt the oil companies, we all need to completely cut oil consumption for a week. That would stock pile billions of barrels of oil.
I'm glad you didn't fall for the scheme. It doesn't work.
2007-05-10 09:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by casey_leftwich 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No; you're right. It IS next Tuesday, May 15th. Consuming gas & purchasing gas are 2 different things.
It's like the difference between grocery shopping & eating dinner.
2007-05-10 10:24:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no. it will lower a price for one day. Everyone will get gas either the day before or the day after. When that happens the gas price will go right bakc up.
I was reading an article on MSN and thats what they said.
2007-05-10 09:25:35 · answer #5 · answered by unan1m0us 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't buy gas day
2014-12-07 04:19:25 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! That is just like having a "Don't Watch TV" day so the prices of cable will go down or a "Don't use your cell phone" day so the prices of the cell phone bills will go down. It will never work.
2007-05-10 09:27:23 · answer #7 · answered by Big Blue 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boys help!!! they confusing!?
2017-03-03 21:26:19 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three days past expected period
2016-07-01 11:49:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is ur favorite day of the year and ur favorite chocolate bar??
2016-06-25 06:44:38 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋