Gas prices too high?

Question

This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the 'don't buy gas on a certain day' campaign that was going around! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to 'hurt' ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them.

For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL. If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit.

Do you think approach might work?

Gaby...

I have no kids, I live in a small house, we have 2 gray water ponds at our house, we have a composting toilet. Solar hot water and electric, what are you doing for the environment?

Answer 1

That wouldnt do a thing. What many people dont get is that most gas stations like exxon and mobil are not corporate owned. They are franchises. The people who own them pay for the name. If they arent corporate owned they are free to buy gas from anywhere they want. You could go to an exxon and really be buying gas from a smaller oil company. And at the same time, you could go to a smaller mom & pop station and really be buying exxon or mobil gas. Plus the fact that most people just dont care....people are just going to keep on buying gas.
Sometimes it helps dealing with these gas prices if you just do simple math to show how much this rise in prices is costing you. You will find that its really not that much money.
Example: My daily driver gets horrible gas mileage. About 11mpg. I use about 20 gallons of gas a week. So gas prices went up a dollar. That only costs me an extra 20 bucks a week. 20 bucks is hardly anything to whine about. The best solution to the price of anything going up. If gas prices go up and costs you 20 bucks a week.....work a little harder and EARN 20 bucks a week. Sorry, but posting on boards, sitting online whining about it and planning boycotts that will never happen pays 0 bucks an hour.

Answer 2

No it will not work. Oil companies know that you will not stop consuming petroleum and petroleum based products because you are an American. Too many people don't give a care, and wont participate. Even if they did, you are still missing the point. Contrary to what the media tells you and you want to believe, oil companies are not jacking up prices because they are evil. George Bush is not snickering in his office because he secretly caused this. You want to know who is responsible for high gas prices? You are (we all are). Because we buy cheap, disposable petroleum based products from companies like Wal Mart who outsource their work to China. On top of that and the massive debt we owe China, they are slowly buying up the rights to all the oil trade with the middle east and South America which we American's hold so dear. Because of relaxed policy with China and poor policy with the rest of the world, we are slowly being phased out of the global oil economy. For generations we lead the world in petroleum consumption, and thus had a lot of control over the global price. Now China is stepping up and adding a heck of a lot more demand to an already dwindling supply. Basic economics is enough to tell you what happens to the price.

Guess what else China is doing with all of our money. Buying up nuclear submarines, destroyers and fighter aircraft from Russia. Think about that before you sleep at night (scares the crap out of me, personally); or just go ahead and try to boycott Haliburton and chase after Dick Chenney with a pitchfork if it makes you feel better.

Answer 3

If you want to lower gas prices and help the environment at the same time it is easy. Stop having babies & increasing population, get a small house, get a small car, carpool, ride a bike, use public transit, turn up you ac, turn off your lights, convert to solar and wind, support nuclear power, support new refineries, support drilling in Alaska and the gulf of Mexico. Support stopping terrorists around the world.

Stop whinning - it solves nothing and gives you ulcers

Answer 4

Instead of complaining about high gas prices, adjust your budget to compensate for the increases. Here are some things you can do.

1) Car pool
2) Buy a 'gas friendly' car
3) Limit needless trips
4) Sell your home and move closer to your place of employment
5) Drive around 50mph (which is very fuel conservitatve)
6) Trim 'needless' things out of your budget to free up cash (cell phones, broadband internet, dining out, etc.)

Answer 5

Not necessarily true..they could always raise prices to regain lost revenue.
It happened when people started conserving water and electricity..the companies had to raise prices because of lost revenue.

Answer 6

Maybe, but here in OK, majority of people buy their gas from Wal-Mart, due to the 3 cents off card thing.

Answer 7

I KNOW THEY DO,BUT WHEN A GAS STATION GOES UP 5 CENTS IN ONE DAY SOMETHING IS WRONG.THEY SHOULD START CHECKING THESE GAS STATIONS REAL SOON!!!!

Answer 8

I think its worth a try. There is no reason we should have to pay $3.60 a gallon.

Answer 9

Nope!