National "Gas-Out" Boycott May 15th; A Wise Message?-UPDATE

For years I've heard of "National Gas Boycott Dates", and this year's no exception. (Some videos added for content on sidebar)

The idea's simple: don't buy gas on a particular date; the pain is felt at the pumps by the oil companies, and consumers cheer with the subsequent reduction in prices. NOT SO FAST...

Here's a short e-mail of this year's version I received a few weeks ago:

NO GAS...On May 15th 2007

Body: Don't pump gas on may 15th

Body: ...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.

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.

If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldn't), resend this to all your contact list; with it saying, "Don't pump gas on May 15th".

While a noble and well-intentioned campaign, the primary reason this notion has miserably failed since its inception (at least around the internet) in 1999 (beginning with e-mail promotion, Spam, and simple word-of-mouth) is its lack of proper planning: stay with me...

Here you will find a link to Snopes.com, a reliable and trustworthy source for just about anything. As mentioned in the article there, the premise is inherently flawed, as the action of only a single day's boycott is, well, meaningless.

Another, even better explanation of Snopes' rationale on the subject is here from BreakTheChain.org, where the clarity of WHO we're buying our oil from plays a significant role in such a national effort; so long as the "message" is felt by OPEC nations that we get our crude from in the Middle East. Of course, cutting off our purchases from countries and nations that serve to use that money to fund a war against us and funnel it to "Jihad terrorists" that want us dead is a much more logical approach.

In short, I recommend quickly researching and visiting both links. You will learn a lot spending about five (5) minutes on each website. My own opinion on the matter, including theirs, is as follows:

Without incorporating an actual change in our consumption (or behaviors) in usage and driving and overall transportation, not much will change. In order to have any kind of effect, sure, we can only buy from Sunoco or Sinclair or Hess stations, if you are able to; to avoid letting our money reach the bottom line of potentially terror-sponsoring groups or nations. However, without an increased commitment from consumers to extend their dissatisfaction with oil companies to more than a day or two, nothing will change when A) those unaware of such a boycott continue to fill up the day it ends, along with those of us backing up the pumps to finally fill up, creating chaos as well as potential record-breaking profits for the companies, but once the date(s), such as May 15, are over, going back to our habits of buying and driving gas-guzzling SUV's (and other related resources) will only prove to the oil companies that our resolve is weak and prices will indeed rise even more.

Let's not forget that even the talk of gas prices rising will incur the wrath of the oil companies to do exactly that. While these fat-cat stock market speculators play with their "mad money" by short-selling crude oil and raising the barrel prices (that ultimately translate to our, higher prices), our 'economy' reaps the benefits while we, as collective, middle-class citizens, are paying through our noses.

The only true, effective solution for this worthy cause is to reduce our consumption; carpool, use public transportation, walk, ride a bike, etcetera, for an extended period of time. To organize such an endeavor is almost ludicrous to imagine; as most people support and love the idea but are just too darn complacent to have the willpower to withstand the test of time the "boycott" would require.

Let's all join hands for the good of a common cause; but please, someone putting out these annual "chain-letters" get a clue and propose an actual length warranting real change; calling for reduction and restraint in our own, selfish usage of the very resources we need and abuse. Without an action plan beyond May 15th, which for the sake of support I'll endorse for the time being; there's not much 'bang for our buck.'

Remember: oil companies don't report profits or losses on a daily or weekly basis. Yes, they might notice consumers rising up on a day (or even two) to send them a message; but their earnings aren't reported until the quarter ends.

Real sacrifice is required in calling for such a plan, and unless the will of the people is strong and resolve is unchallengeable, our "threat" will backfire and pose as hollow and short-sighted as one single day is.

UPDATE:

BP Gas Station in Merrill, Wisconsin drew the ire and attention of the federal government over the price of its fuel Wednesday, and not due to it being too high, but because it was too LOW; its deep discounts for senior citizens and other groups apparently violated Wisconsin's "Unfair Sales Act". They were told to raise their prices at the pumps to Nine percent (9%) over the wholesale price. Kind of makes you wonder who's really out to gouge you; the so-called "terror-sponsored OPEC oil companies", or good-ol' Uncle Sam and his tax-machine...

Again, if you really want to send a message, perhaps a petition to your own government will ease your frustrations; if it really makes a difference.