Off subject! But lets try it!!

[Tom S.]

Subject: Don't pump gas on may 15th

NO GAS...On May 15th 2007
Don't pump gas on may 15th
..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 companys 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 wouldnt) resend this to all your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"

I don't know if this will work or not but lets give it a try. We have nothing to loose and everything to gain. In my opinion everyone has to fill up sooner or later anyway so if you do it on the 13th or 15th what difference does it make to the oil companys.

[John H.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

[Duke W.]

(Message Deleted by Poster)

Message Deleted by Poster

[Tom S.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

Duke
Well said as usual, I don't think this plan will do a thing. I just wanted to through it out there for discusion and see what happens! Tom

[Duke W.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

Just for comparison, gasoline in London is about seven bucks a gallon and similarly priced in most of Europe and the far east.

The only ways to "reduce" energy prices are to increase the supply of crude oil and processing facitlities (refineries) and reduce long term growth of demand, which will be very tough with emerging economies such as China and India where energy use growth is soaring.

As individuals we can choose to drive more fuel efficient vehicles for our normal yeoman driving tasks, and do something to break the grip that "environmentalsts" have on energy politics and policy.

1. A new refinery has not been built in the US for over 30 years due to "environmentalists".

2. New sources of crude oil supplies in the US cannot be exploited due to "environmental activism".

Nobody wants a refinery in their backyard or an oil rig offshore that you can see, but you can't have your cake and eat it, too. A couple of weeks ago a proposal to build a LNG terminal about 30 miles offshore (over the horizon) was rejected by California officials - mostly because about 150 people showed up at the meeting to protest. The idea is dead due to a small group of activists that say NO to ANY and EVERY attempt to increase energy supply no matter what the long term consequences, and energy prices are bound to increase as a result.

Writing your elected legislators and demanding that the US develop a sensible energy policy (which we have NEVER had) will do a lot more good than a one day gasoline purchase boycott, which is nothing more than window dressing.

Duke

[Tom S.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

If everyone would combine thier trips and conserve 10-20 % look how much money they would save let alone cut into the profits of OPEC and the oil companys. This is America and supply and demand rule and that is all it boils down to.There is only so much oil being pumped so it will go to the highest bidder!

[ed styczynski]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

In addition down the road I would like to see everyone not buy any gas from the 2 big guns Exxon and Mobil. They continue to make record profits plus we are paying them to look for oil. With the profits they are making I would like to know how many are really looking for new oil. The real shame is that most of the people we elect, because of the wealth they have, are connected in many ways to the oil companies. In spite of the profits they make, I just read the other day that Exxon still owes money for the alaskan spill. I would love to see someone get into office that's willing to start squeezing big oil.

[Douglas L.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

Tom Stanton has a plan that is workable. Just cut 10% - 20% and watch the prices fall. Start monitoring how much a month is spent on gas. The number might be scary! Track the gallons used and start cutting. Think of other ways you could or would like to use that money! It's an instant pay raise.

[Verle R.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

If most everyone would cut their gas usage they would benefit.
Not buying any gas for one day just postpones the purchase until tomorrow; the oil companies will not notice.

To emphasize what Duke said, today's gas prices are the result of:

Growing demand in China and India
restricted exploration, drilling and production of crude oil in the USA
limited refining capacity.

The refineries that exist cannot supply all the gas we (USA) use so we are importing gasoline. Governmental regulations and environmentalist lawsuits have effectively prevented any new refineries in over 30 years. The existing refineries are old, they require maintenance and when maintenance is performed they cannot do any refining. That reduces capacity, less gasoline produced, growing demand, higher gasoline prices.

The USA has heavy crude reserves that would supply USA demand for over 200 years. It is difficult and expensive to extract but todays prices make it economical. Ask your local environmentalist and your local congressman why they will not allow refineries to be built that would make the USA independent of foreign suppliers.

Duke mentioned a sensible energy policy. This is not a new problem. The "energy crisis" of the early 1970's was a big red flag. The politicians used it to punish oil companies by enacting the "excess profits tax". The politicians had control of money that could have funded energy research but used it for other purposes.

Don't expect them to do anything more intelligent now.

Verle

[Duke W.]

Re: Off subject! But lets try it!!

ExxonMobil's net profit is about 10 cents of every sales dollar - same as GM's net profit/sales ratio back in the halcyon days of the fifties. Nowadays GM is doing well to make 3 cents on the dollar.

Microsoft's net profit is about 30 cents on every sales dollar.

So what's the biggest "ripoff", a gallon of gasoline or diesel from ExxonMobil or anything from Microsoft?

Do some research and compare Starbucks' financial ratios to big oil. (Hint: Any business that can sell less than a nickel's worth of ingrediants for a buck and a half is a good deal!) How about bottled water - costs more per gallon than gasoline, but the actual cost to the vendor is a buck or so per hundred cubic feet (748 gallons) and the cost or running it through a filter and bottling.

Figure out the raw material cost of gallon of gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel at 60-65 bucks a barrel (42 gallons). Then add the cost of the very capital intensive refining process, transportation, and TAXES!!! The total of federal, state, and local taxes on each gallon of gasoline far exceed Exxon's net profit per gallon. Who's making the killing?

The press makes a big deal out of ExxonMobil's quarterly profits, but what they fail to mention is their sales and the net profit to sales ratio, which is what really counts.

Nor do they compare ExxonMobil's financial ratios to historical oil industry averages or averages of other industries, many of which are much more profitable than big oil.

Nor do they mention that ExxonMobil plows all its profits back into research and oil exploration, other capital expenditures, and dividends to shareholders.

And if you own typical index funds in your personal portfolio or retirement account or through a defined benefit pension plan, I GUARANTEE that you own shares of ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil is the number one holding in all S&P 500 index funds at about 3.7% of total assets and also number one in total market index funds at about 2.4% of assets.

The above is Accounting 101, and I bet most on this board own a piece of ExxonMobil whether they know it or not.

Ever looked at a university journalism, communications, or political science curriculum (not to even mention law)? How do you expect these morons to tell you anything meaningful about economics, business, technology, or science.

Duke

[Michael W.]

I'm in!

I'll fill up the cars on the 14th and 16th instead, just like everyone else. That'll teach them!

[Clem Z.]

the price of gasoline is in line with inflation

in 1953 i bought a new 1953 low price chevy and it cost about $1300 and gas was about $.27 a gallon so now the low price chevy cost $13,000 and gasoline costs $2.75. seems right to me,the problem is that gasoline did not go up with inflation along with everything else over the years it just jumped all at once

[Clem Z.]

the price of gasoline is in line with inflation

in 1953 i bought a new 1953 low price chevy and it cost about $1300 and gas was about $.27 a gallon so now the low price chevy cost $13,000 and gasoline costs $2.75. seems right to me,the problem is that gasoline did not go up with inflation along with everything else over the years it just jumped all at once

[Mark #28455]

seems kinda odd the way the price changes

Right after Katrina, the price went up to $3 a gallon. I know, hurricane, damage to oil platforms, etc.... but then 3 mos before the election, it suddenly dropped to $2 a gallon...... then not too long after the election, right back to $3.

Why you ask? Well, once they knew we would just roll over and take it at $3 - nobody really cut back on their usage - they knew that the price could go back there again! The ONLY way we will ever break the cycle is to ALL cut back on oil usage. I now only use my Suburban when hauling loads, otherwise my 30+ MPG Impala is the primary driver in our family.

Mark

[Mark #28455]

seems kinda odd the way the price changes

Right after Katrina, the price went up to $3 a gallon. I know, hurricane, damage to oil platforms, etc.... but then 3 mos before the election, it suddenly dropped to $2 a gallon...... then not too long after the election, right back to $3.

Why you ask? Well, once they knew we would just roll over and take it at $3 - nobody really cut back on their usage - they knew that the price could go back there again! The ONLY way we will ever break the cycle is to ALL cut back on oil usage. I now only use my Suburban when hauling loads, otherwise my 30+ MPG Impala is the primary driver in our family.

Mark