If you’re a MySpace or Facebook user (or if you receive email) you will know that there is a gas boycott being formed across the country for May 15. Nothing new, as this has occurred on the Internet for the past few years. The “protest” calls for people to not buy gas on May 15 and in turn it will lower gas prices.
The flaw with this is that people will not use less gas (or not drive that day) but will simply shift their day of purchase to the day before or after. A boycott is about doing without something. I don’t buy gasoline every day. I buy it when I need it.
The true issue is not high gas prices. The United States has some of the lowest gas prices in the world. Higher gas prices will force people to use public transportation, carpool, and be more efficient with their energy use. Hopefully it will also force our country to make positive changes. Higher gas prices are a good thing.
The Facebook boards are filled with ignorance. Theories are that oil continuously is imported and that a one day protest will cause a “backup.” Others that protest these groups created their own protest to “pump as much as as you want on May 15.” I think we need to stop finding needless causes and focus on what truly needs to be done to reduce our carbon footprint. I take public transportation as much as possible and use as little energy as I can when at home. Many people have trucks or SUVs that they use every day to travel 15 minutes to work. These people and many others have no right to complain about high gas prices.
It shocks me to see the number of people complaining about gas prices. I mean, take a look at these images… I thought our country is turning toward alternate fuels and a cause of efficiency and reducing consumption.
>> A search “gas” under Facebook yields 479 events. Read why such a protest won’t work on Snopes.
4 Comments
1 May 2007 at 14:14
To be honest, I don’t think that enough people will do it to have a real impact. You make good points, so hopefully it’s just given lip service (as most causes are in college).
http://politicsandreligion.wordpress.com
6 May 2007 at 11:42
I believe that with a little effort, Gas Out 2007 will have a great effect on the oil companies, and I am sure that most Americans know what a boycott is. Is it fair that the CEO’s of oil companies are not treated as equals to other citizens of the United States? For example not being sworn in to make a statement in court? Is it fair that oil companies continue to raise prices, even when the price that they buy oil for is no higher? I think that the people deserve a chance to do the same thing that created this great nation in the first place, and thats protest! We need to stand up for whats ours, and show oil companies that without us they are nothing, we need to show them that they work for us!
6 May 2007 at 11:42
http://www.gasout2007.com
17 May 2007 at 21:14
I think people should stay a home for a week and not go anywhere unless its an emergency.Get enough to eat and just enough gas if something comes up and you just have to go somewhere.I’m sick of being screwed at the pump and all those excuses we are hearing about why makes me sick.I dont know why people sit around and take the bull they are dishing out while your money is going into they’re greedy pockets.Quit being so gullable and open your eyes.How can gas prices go up and drop so quick,they are seeing how much they can push you while you sit there and take it.