I received this mail some time ago, and thought that maybe, with everyones help we could give the DGI's a chance [as well as our selves] to get some gas for less.

It could also be a [weak?] test to see just what our influence is over a 'broad' spectrum of society.

Imagine, if we could garner enough support to affect the price of gas.... Pipe dream? [sorry for the pun, I seem to be full of them.]

Could it really hurt to try?

Insert>>>

THE GREAT " GAS OUT "

It's time we did something about the price of gasoline in America! We are all sick and tired of high prices when there are literally millions of gallons in storage. Know what? If there was just ONE day when no one purchased any gasoline, prices would drop drastically. The so-called oil cartel has decided to slow production by some 2 million barrels per day to drive up the price. Let's see how many Americans we can get to NOT BUY ANY GASOLINE on one particular day!

Let's have a GAS OUT! Do not buy any gasoline on FRIDAY, APRIL 30,1999!!!!! Buy on the Thursday before, or the Saturday after. Do not buy any gasoline on FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1999.

Wanna help? Send this message to everyone you know. Ask them to do the same. All we need is a few million to participate in order to make a difference. We CAN make a difference.<< Hmmm...I suppose this will label me somehow. I await your response.....

J

PS I guess you can relate anything to y2k?

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), April 21, 1999

Answers

I received this e-mail too, and I almost fell out of my chair laughing. HIGH GAS PRICES IN AMERICA? Stop, you're killing me...

Scott

-- Scott Johnson (scojo@yahoo.com), April 21, 1999.

The US has had gasoline prices kept artificially low for years vis a vis the rest of the world. Not buying gas for a day will do nothing. The better plan is for a couple million people to refuse to DRIVE ANYWHERE for a week. That might make a teeny ripple. Our household vehicles include a Honda CRX,...10 years old,...and a BMW motorcycle, same age,...both in excellent running condition, garnering 40-45 miles per gallon each in town. We drive reluctantly and sparingly....We pedal to the farmers' market and grocery store,...

A question we ask constantly...do we really need to go there?

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), April 21, 1999.

J,

"Imagine, if we could garner enough support to affect the price of gas...."

It's possible you could get enough people to affect the price of gas, but it would RAISE the price, not lower it. If you really want to stick it to the Rockefellers of the world (Standard Oil), sell your car, and use an alternative energy type of transportation. If everyone in the world were to become self-sufficient using solar or wind energy to produce electricity, and never again use oil, eventually the corporate moguls would lose the grip they have on your pocketbook and other aspects of your life. The easiest way to immediately crash the establishment system and give the power back to the people would be if everyone in the world were to withdraw all of their money from the bank. Isn't it worth losing a few dollars of interest to regain your freedom?

-- @ (@@@.@), April 21, 1999.

Well, I'm not buying gas on the 30th. And yes, limiting our trips would be helpful also. But trying to get everyone to do it? ha..won't happen.

pamela ;)

-- pamela (pamela4@hotmail.com), April 21, 1999.

US gas prices are the lowest in the world! What are you guys bitching about? GAS IS CHEAP!! And if you don't like it, go to Canada, Europe, anywhere and you pay many times what you pay in America!

KWITCHURBELYACHIN!!!!

-- freddie (freddie@thefreeloader.com), April 22, 1999.

Two thoughts on this subject.

Gas is cheap, and not just in America. About six months ago, gasoline prices were at their lowest level EVER (adjusted for inflation). While gas is more expensive in countries other than the U.S., much of the differnence is due to differing tax rates (though there is some variance due to shipping costs). In the U.S., gasoline is taxed at 18.4 cents per gallon federally, and state taxes vary widely. Most countries tax gasoline sales at a much higher rate. Recent discoveries (including certain otherwise tapped beds that seem to be producing fantastically in excess of the projected reserves) will put pressure on the price of gasoline in hte long term. To be shocked and dismayed by the increase in price seems a bit shortsighted: if anything, most economists 10 years ago would have told you that gas prices should be far higher by now.

Second, wouldn't a "gas out" day simply shift the date of consumption? If consumers (as the poster suggests) purchase on the Thursday before or the Saturday after, that will simply shift the date of the cash receipts. The same number dollars will be spent. The only places that it would even impact are promotional activities tied to days of the week (e.g., some gas stations offer discounts on Tuesdays because, I understand, gas purchases are typically lower on Tuesdays). How does that send a message at all? And what message does it really send? Clearly, according to the poster, total gasoline consumption will remain constant over the week.

Baffling.

Oh, and it might have the side effect of causing our friendly neighborhood gas station attendant to be lonely on the day of the gas out.

-- Jeff Donohue (jeff_donohue@hotmail.com), April 22, 1999.