Lion's Daily Blurb - Mon., Tues., May 14-15

[Lion]

On Tuesday, May 15th is the day Americans are to boycott all gas stations. In other words, if you drive, don't buy gas on Tuesday. I have no idea who started the boycott, but millions of emails have been circulating for at least two weeks calling for this gas boycott. Obviously it's an attempt to get the attention of the oil industry. They got my attention when gasoline prices hit over $3.00 per gallon this weekend in my neck of da woods. Predictions are that gas could go to over $4.00 per gallon by mid summer. This one day boycott is suppose to be a payback to the oil tycoons. I don't really see how it could possibly hurt them, cause on Wednesday things will be back to normal, and peeps who didn't get gas on Tuesday will need more on Wednesday, etc. Just like food, we need gas. It's one of the essentials of daily living, unless we plan on hoofing it down the road. But I'll play along with the game and see what happens. Most of my friends are gonna participate in the boycott too. If anything, we can say we were part of the great gasoline walkout in 2007.

[Derek]

Yeah, like you said, its pointless. Any gas that wasn't bought on Tuesday will just be bought on Wednesday. A real boycott would be not using gas for a day, but thats not going to happen.

(On that note, I didn't buy gas today, but only because I didn't need to)

[General Al Ramsey]

Both of my cars are on empty and I get paid tomorrow. So I gotta fill up tomorrow, otherwise I won't be able to go to work and produce other things so I can afford food and other necessities. If I don't go to work the economy will really slow down and start a recession in our family, which could then spread nationally and then globally. So I figure it is better that I fill up and go to work. (For the worlds' sake) So in essence I am doing this for all of you. :tantrum:

PS At least it won't be so crowded at the pumps! :squint:

[berlin88]

Well we won't need a boycott or protest once the oil runs out. Those oil execs may be making lots of money now, but they will be in trouble when the oil runs out. (thought I expect them to try alternatives)

[KnightShift]

Heres the thing, and I didnt come up with this, its already been proposed in a different email:

To hurt 'Big Gas', a common target needs be chosen, say Esso, then dont buy from them or the affilates for a week/end whatever. Buy from the little guys, whoever -IS NOT- the target.

-NOT BUYING- gas hurts everyone. Yea, you've been shot in the foot, to spite the doctor, who knows your going to be bled out and see him anyways tomorrow for his 'band aid'. And it helps the big guys, because they know it wont make a difference, AND they know fewer will try it NEXT time round, because of the lack of effect.

Time to start going to a different doctor. Then once youve done that for a while, switch again.

The only weapon the people have is organization. You know what to do. Whether you do it or not is your choice.

[Korona]

It costs the equivalent of more than $6 a gallon here in the UK. I hate to say it but you don't know how good you have it.
I really don't think the US is somewhere one can complain about high petrol prices.
Of course the solution really if oil prices are really hurting you that much is to stop driving such ridiculous vehicles that do such pitiful mileage. Do you need a truck to drive on tarmac? No you do not. Buy a nice Toyota. Great cars. :D

[DarkZeus]

...man its going to be a nightmare at the pumps on Wednesday though.

I mostly use my motorcycle so gas for me is not an issue, except my safety.

One thing to mention. C&C has been known to somewhat "predict" the future. I was in world builder, looking through buildings (gas stations), and I see that gas prices will be around $15.75 a gallon :eek: .

[Thrawn-28]

lol this makes me laugh

costs about double that over here for a gallon

you guys should be glad you pay so little

[M2M]

lol this makes me laugh

costs about double that over here for a gallon

you guys should be glad you pay so little

one euro 36 cents per liter of benzine over here in the netherlands... you should be happy, not sad.

by the way, go buy yourself a toyota tiny or something... that saves gas

you know... eventually it will all run out, and there will be no more driving on gas for any americans... ever

[KrasnyOktyabr]

And until that day I will continue to burn as much fuel as my wallet can afford, just to piss those self-righteous, Toyota Prius driving, eco-nuts off.

The only reason why I'll be returning from Korea to a small pickup in my driveway is because I can't afford the monthly payments for a large one.

[EliteGi]

And until that day I will continue to burn as much fuel as my wallet can afford, just to piss those self-righteous, Toyota Prius driving, eco-nuts off.

The only reason why I'll be returning from Korea to a small pickup in my driveway is because I can't afford the monthly payments for a large one.
Because tax is so high here, for the fuel and for the car itself, many, many people are being highly encouraged to find a more efficient alternative to their current car. I visit the British Pistonheads (petrolheads) website and even many of them are looking to an efficient alternative to their sports cars. Lotus and other lightweight vehicle manufacturers have a lot of potential in the market now.

But since the tax goes back into the country I say it's all good. Manufacturers are highly encouraged to develop more fuel efficient cars as well as research alternative fuel cars, as there is a market for it. We use less fuel (in the long term) and possibly develop a real alternative to petrol.

[Aikichi]

I have a car my self and I prefer to walk over anything. If anything I'll use my bike if I need to get somewhere fast but if I really need to go somewhere like over 25 miles away then I take my car.

These gas boycotts all they do is cause inflation in gas prices being how little money was made if many people were to go along with this boycott. If a true message were to be sent to these companies you would have to not buy gas for a week or maybe two or have an example of a town or city that everyone walks and uses non gass means of transportation.

[Ace]

keep at it guys, but gas prices wont go down so much, as the others said buy a car that doesnt use up gas as much like a hummer :D
your oil prices are cheaper than im ny country btw. :p

[HawkEye1102002]

It costs the equivalent of more than $6 a gallon here in the UK. I hate to say it but you don't know how good you have it.
I really don't think the US is somewhere one can complain about high petrol prices.

I second that, our soon-to-be-PM Brown has risen taxes on vehicles on high CO2 emissions, so for me to get a Mitsubishi L-200 would cost me £400 a year - and us country folk are going to suffer the most where we need 4X4 because of bad road surfaces and bad wether affects country driving a lot.

What Brown doesn't get (or he DOES get it) is the real enamy is not CO2 directly, it is the heavy metals that get pumped out, like NOX (Nitrogen Oxide) and other gasses like Sulpher.
I read somewhere that humans account for only 6.5% of the CO2 emissions, while the rest of the emissions are caused by natural sources like volcanos for example (so Brown should tax them as well, hang on a minute, when we exhale, we breathe out CO2, lets tax ourselfs for breathing)

The only reason Brown is jibba-jabbering on about CO2 emissions from vehicles is that he knows that we can easely reduce the heavy metals from emissions, so he devised a new plan on making more money through taxations, just say "green issues caused it" and "CO2 is the biggest cause of climate change", his plan will fail misrably, he cannot prevent climate change through taxation, the rich will still own 4X4's as status symbols, and won't get an inch of mud on it, us country folk and people with big familys will suffer, not forgetting that celebrities started this "green" craze.
The only way out of this stupid tax system is rape seed (biodiesel), but soon as that becomes popular, the government will tax it high.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do think climate change is happening and I am willing to get a biodiesel 4X4, but it climate change happend as well during the ice age and I don't recall 4X4 existing then.
I DO NOT accept that we are the cause of climate change but I DO accept that we are contributing and accelerating climate change, and we should have conversions to convert our "gas guzzelers" to use cleaner fuels, funded out of the governments money made out of vehicle tax

[EliteGi]

I DO NOT accept that we are the cause of climate change but I DO accept that we are contributing and accelerating climate change, and we should have conversions to convert our "gas guzzelers" to use cleaner fuels, funded out of the governments money made out of vehicle tax
This is the only planet we have, we must take every precaution to preserve it.

With that said, read my last post. Taxing like this DOES really encourage manufacturers to develop more efficient vehicles and different fuel sources. This will, in time, allow us to develop cars that don't run on petrol, without comprimise.

Though I believe slack should be cut for:

a) Old cars.
b) 4x4's that are needed (like in your case by the sounds of it).

[killcrazy]

Bike
Carpool
Walk
Public Transportation
Telecommute
Do something around home

The United States has a severe obesity problem. We drive to the heath club. We drive to the grocery store where we buy expensive chemical food that's supposed to make us slim down. We drive to work and to school.

The problem isn't so much the food we eat, or not going to the yuppie gym. It's lack of walking.

Not only that but if we don't find alternative energy sources-- the half trillion we've squandered in Iraq would have gone a long way toward that goal-- we're all screwed. Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, screwed alike by global warming (not debatable by anyone with an IQ over 90) and peak oil.

Malthus and Darwin are a couple of cast iron bastards.

[EliteGi]

Bike
Carpool
Walk
Public Transportation
Telecommute
Do something around home

The United States has a severe obesity problem. We drive to the heath club. We drive to the grocery store where we buy expensive chemical food that's supposed to make us slim down. We drive to work and to school.

The problem isn't so much the food we eat, or not going to the yuppie gym. It's lack of walking.

Not only that but if we don't find alternative energy sources-- the half trillion we've squandered in Iraq would have gone a long way toward that goal-- we're all screwed. Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, screwed alike by global warming (not debatable by anyone with an IQ over 90) and peak oil.

Malthus and Darwin are a couple of cast iron bastards.
Looks like the American dream has become a nightmare. All of these wide-screen TV's, home delivery services and SUV's don't really do much for one's health do they? :p

Anyway, this is le off-topique.

[Derek]

Malthus and Darwin are a couple of cast iron bastards.
What the hell does Darwin have to do with any of that?

[starscream007]

And until that day I will continue to burn as much fuel as my wallet can afford, just to piss those self-righteous, Toyota Prius driving, eco-nuts off.

The only reason why I'll be returning from Korea to a small pickup in my driveway is because I can't afford the monthly payments for a large one.

ROFL but seriously I drive a Chevy S-10 and Im been so used to paying so much for gas it just doesnt bother me anymore.

[jmqrsq]

Listen here guys and gals, the reason gas is so expensive everywhere.... its simple.... its bush's retirement plan. Funny no one can see the connection. Why havent we gotten Bin Laden....cuz hes an oil guy from way back..... and we dont hear about his sorry ass anymore. I am telling you gas will go down with the next president in office... barring he/she doesnt have a interest in oil companies.... i mean for real who didnt see or care that certain oil companies are boasting record PROFITS...yes PROFITS, thast over and above overhead..... Until we all unite and fight this crap it will only get worse. We are too far gone as it is i am afraid.

Now i will get off the pedestal/soapbox... let the flaming begin :flame:

[Camel]

It costs the equivalent of more than $6 a gallon here in the UK. I hate to say it but you don't know how good you have it.
I really don't think the US is somewhere one can complain about high petrol prices.
Of course the solution really if oil prices are really hurting you that much is to stop driving such ridiculous vehicles that do such pitiful mileage. Do you need a truck to drive on tarmac? No you do not. Buy a nice Toyota. Great cars. :D

:rockbrow: US gallon, or UK gallon??

By my reckoning, it costs about $9 per UK gallon, here in the UK....:\

[KrasnyOktyabr]

Listen here guys and gals, the reason gas is so expensive everywhere.... its simple.... its bush's retirement plan. Funny no one can see the connection. Why havent we gotten Bin Laden....cuz hes an oil guy from way back..... and we dont hear about his sorry ass anymore. I am telling you gas will go down with the next president in office... barring he/she doesnt have a interest in oil companies.... i mean for real who didnt see or care that certain oil companies are boasting record PROFITS...yes PROFITS, thast over and above overhead..... Until we all unite and fight this crap it will only get worse. We are too far gone as it is i am afraid.

Now i will get off the pedestal/soapbox... let the flaming begin :flame:

So Bush is responsible for the high price of fuel in South Korea, Canada, Europe, and the rest of the industrialized world? :rolleyes:

[jmqrsq]

So Bush is responsible for the high price of fuel in South Korea, Canada, Europe, and the rest of the industrialized world? :rolleyes:

Take a look around... they are all our allies ain't they? Pretty clear to me.

[KrasnyOktyabr]

Yeah they're our allies, along with most of the Westernized world. Your argument is still void because these countries have had high fuel prices far longer than Bush has been in office. This is especially true in Europe and Korea.

[meteoradreams]

Those who boycotted today:
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only got gas the days before. J_t

[EliteGi]

Yeah they're our allies, along with most of the Westernized world. Your argument is still void because these countries have had high fuel prices far longer than Bush has been in office. This is especially true in Europe and Korea.
Ignore him, he's begging for attention that is all. Not worth your time.

[Anti-Social Kinda Guy]

the rich will still own 4X4's as status symbols, and won't get an inch of mud on it, us country folk and people with big familys will suffer

The problem with the system is that to monitor it results in more civil service time, administration and costs. There are problems like this everywhere; the student loan system is another example ( seriously, since when were students independent if they are expected to rely on their parents until they're 22 because they own more than £20k a year? )

What results is that some people are better off than they should be and some are much worse off, but for fear of increasing admin ( plus the inevitable appeals against "common sense" decisions ) they tend to group people into brackets.

The problem with reasonable 4x4 use is a justification system, which is either going to be too rigid to take real needs into account or so slack it becomes based on individual judgement ( and thus unfair decisions and appeals ). Of course, anybody with a completely clean Porche 4x4 should have immense road tax; people who really need them don't get such rediculous models.

[KrasnyOktyabr]

People that really need them likely couldn't afford such a 'rediculous model' in the first place.

[Demeuser]

Gas prices are going higher in the US...why?

1. No regulation--they are free to charge whatever they want!
2. The analysts and Oil company PR people say prices are going to go higher, so when they do, people are not surprised.
3. They give ridiculous reasons for the price increases - Summer driving increase...has happeded for the past 25 years with no "sizeable" increases except for the past few years. - Shortages at the oil refineries...if that is true then there should be shortages at the pumps...but there isn't. - Costs to produce the gas have increased...again, not true. If that were true, profits should remain constant. However, some oil companies reported 9 Billion in profit for one quarter or 3 months. Demand is higher...again only slightly true, but if demand increases, then supplies should be tight and there should be shortages.
4. Not comparing to the rest of the world...which has far higher prices, the price for 1 gallon at the end of January 2007 was $1.99 Now it is $3.30...there were no hurricanes, no terrorist attacks and no real political unrest in OPEC's.
5. The only logical conclusion is price gouging...and since the government will have a heck of a time proving this--assuming they would want to, prices will stay high. The only real solution is a one week boycott along with no driving of personal vehicles. I know, not practical or realistic for most.:(

[KorJax]

Im pretty sure its been proven that gas boycotts dont work at all. Its been said that the ONLY way a gas boycott (assuming the ENTIRE country would do this) would work, is if it was boycotted for a lengthy period of time (over a month). Even then, im not sure the effect would be good.

And I love how the Euro's always bring up the "Well we pay $6!" card. Yes, its bad, but yet many Euro's can easily walk+ride bikes to work anyways (many people in spain opt to do this also because of the fact that parking spaces are so un-uniform and limited). Pardon me if I am wrong, but I imagine the smaller spaces and the fact how everything is "closer" together in EuroLand, offsets the fact the gas is rediculously high there. AKA I'm saying that AFAIK Europe is much less "dependant" than America (atelast from what I've seen and heard from people who live there).

After all, its somewhat common for people in America during thier morning commute to work to drive long 50-100 miles to get to work in the next city every day.

[Derek]

Gas prices are going higher in the US...why?

1. No regulation--they are free to charge whatever they want!
2. The analysts and Oil company PR people say prices are going to go higher, so when they do, people are not surprised.
3. They give ridiculous reasons for the price increases - Summer driving increase...has happeded for the past 25 years with no "sizeable" increases except for the past few years. - Shortages at the oil refineries...if that is true then there should be shortages at the pumps...but there isn't. - Costs to produce the gas have increased...again, not true. If that were true, profits should remain constant. However, some oil companies reported 9 Billion in profit for one quarter or 3 months. Demand is higher...again only slightly true, but if demand increases, then supplies should be tight and there should be shortages.
4. Not comparing to the rest of the world...which has far higher prices, the price for 1 gallon at the end of January 2007 was $1.99 Now it is $3.30...there were no hurricanes, no terrorist attacks and no real political unrest in OPEC's.
5. The only logical conclusion is price gouging...and since the government will have a heck of a time proving this--assuming they would want to, prices will stay high. The only real solution is a one week boycott along with no driving of personal vehicles. I know, not practical or realistic for most.:(
Someone doesn't understand the commodities trading market.

[Korona]

:rockbrow: US gallon, or UK gallon??
By my reckoning, it costs about $9 per UK gallon, here in the UK....:\

Yes I was talking about US dollars. In the UK petrol costs 'about' $6 for 1 US Gallon (and yes I do mean US dollars :P). Talking about UK gallons would have been just downright confusing!

As has been stated before, the US has some of the lowest fuel costs in the developed world. It's unsupprising that the companies are charging what can be easily afforded.