I heard of a consumer strike to not buy exxon/mobil gasoline to lower gas prices. Heard of this?Would it work?
479017
No.  A boycott of a couple of brands of gasoline won't result in lower overall prices. Prices at all the non-boycotted outlets would rise due to the temporarily limited supply and increased demand, making the original prices look cheap by comparison. The shunned outlets could then make a killing by offering gasoline at its "normal" (i.e., pre-boycott) price or by selling off their output to the non-boycotted companies, who will need the extra supply to meet demand. The only person who really gets hurt in this proposed scheme is the service station operator, who has almost no control over the price of gasoline.\n\nThe only practical way of reducing gasoline prices is through the straightforward means of buying less gasoline, not through a simple and painless scheme of just shifting where we buy it.
774056
Market forces my behind. The price of crude is still dropping while the price of gas is creeping up again. Are people really trying to say the price of gas dropped seventy five cents after labor day because the summer driving season ended? Get real. The oil industry is globally manipulated and further down the chain manipulated by everyone who can manipulate it. Every oil company dumps their gas into a common pipeline and then pulls it out somewhere else along that pipeline. Exxon-Mobil, Citgo, Chevron...it's all the same gasoline. They each add some ingredients to try to distinguish themselves from one another with whatever they claim their gas does to enhance your engines performance. Think there's no manipulation? What happened to the oil shortage from thirty five years ago?
685011
Most American taxpayers would get $100 rebate checks to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote soon.\n\nHowever, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.\n\nDemocrats are also expected to offer their own competing proposal, as members of both parties jockey for political position on the gas price issue.\n\n"Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they're feeling at the pump," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday. \n\n"It also includes strong federal anti-price gouging protection to protect consumers against anti-competitive behavior by oil companies or other suppliers of gasoline. Our free market system works, but it works best when there's full accountability and full transparency." \n\nFrist said the rebates would go to single taxpayers making less than $125,000 per year, and couples making less than $150,000.\n\nRepublican senators said they hoped soaring gas prices would inspire Democrats to support their proposals.\n\n"A lot of these other things we're talking about today, supply, like ANWR, have had Democrats oppose them in the past, when gas was $1.25, $1.50. Gas is now $3," said John Thune, R-South Dakota. "I would expect that there would be a lot more bipartisan support for proposals that would increase supply in this country."\n\n"We have been trying for years to do something about supply without their help. I hope now that we'll have their help," he added.\n\nBut Democrats seemed unimpressed.\n\n"It's designed to protect Big Oil while mistakenly believing that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will solve America's energy problems," Jim Manley, a spokesman for Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, told The Associated Press.\n\nThe energy package, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, will be offered as an amendment to an emergency spending measure now before the Senate funding the Iraq war and hurricane relief, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.\n\nUnder Senate rules, either the GOP amendment or the Democratic alternative would probably need 60 votes to pass, which is considered unlikely. However, the amendments would give senators a change to cast votes on measures designed to help constituents being hit by high gas prices.\n\nAs outlined by Frist and other GOP senators, the energy package would give taxpayers a $100 rebate, repeal tax incentives for oil companies and allow the Federal Trade Commission to prosecute retailers unlawfully inflating the price of gasoline.\n\nThe measure would also give the Transportation Department authority to issue fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles, expand tax incentives for the use of hybrid vehicles and push for more research into alternative fuels and expansion of existing oil refineries.\n\nThe GOP senators are also calling on the Bush administration to suspend deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for six months to increase the nation's oil supply. President Bush announced Tuesday that he would halt new deposits into the reserve until after the summer driving season.\n\nOn the other side of the aisle, Democrats on Wednesday called for a new energy bill and federal legislation to punish price gougers.\n\n"There's no reason why we can't put forth a real energy policy that addresses the needs of this nation," said Rep. Bart Stupak, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "from gouging to market manipulation to biofuels. We can do it."\n\nAnd leaders of the Senate Finance Com
223519
Have you checked the fuel prices lately?  I think people are looking for an alternative fuel source because of the rising prices of gas.  Not only that, this whole gas exploration thing creates such a power play in the world and even causes wars and embargoes.
953352
The government of the United States was not established to act as a purchasing agent.  What do Americans expect, free fuel?\n\nA large part of the cost of automotive fuels is the high cost of refinng, with the legislated requirement of reduced pollution, both on the road and at the refinery.  Recent legislation requires new low levels of sulfur in diesel fuel, which is great, although it will raise the cost of transportation and the cost of goods at every store, and reduced profit at the refineries.\n\nSince the Democrats have gained more seats in Congress, and have promised to "investigate" Big Oil, they are simply driving my retirement nest-egg into overseas investments, because I can't afford to invest in American companies whose profits are being depleted by their own government.  Goodbye Exxon Mobil.  Hello Petroleos Brasilieros.
612711
That is a good point. I think most people would be greedy. I think personally I would take into account how much of that product people would need and wither people would be able to afford it. With gas it is used so much and by so many that they can afford to make it cheap and still get rich.
578866
Well, I think that would be more effective than just showing us how much they can hurt our economy by not shopping or working for one day.. It's like everyone not buying gas on the same day.. Everything will go back to normal tomorrow and they will be shopping and working just like always.. probably more to make up for not doing it today.
375451
I started boycotting exxon-mobile 1st quarter last year. Exxon got huge PROFITS from the 42% PROFIT they get per barrel of oil.  Products from the oil, is marketed everywhere, gas, diesel etc. I believe that enough people boycotted one company, it could work, Boycot until the allowed profit is reduced. Legally they get 42% no matter what the price per barrel is. The state you live in can get as much as 28% tax. 12% profit is for distribution, the remainder is for the station. The world stability determines price of a barrel of oil. But we could force a company to NOT GET THE HUGE   PROFIT FROM A SINGLE BARREL. OR -----------BOYCOT WALMART- hurt a huge corporation and money will talk.........
461013
the gas companies have greedy businessmen behind them milking this for all it's worth.  they are lying to the public, and making record profits!!!  its disgusting.  no one in this government will take a stand on this.  i think that they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them(money)!!!
635678
we cant boycott them, that wouldnt work. bicycles wouldnt make sense for many many miles to school or work, especially for out of shape people *phew.* i say... we kidnap someone. yeah. im not sure who, but we kidnap someone, like my mom maybe... and then not release them until gas is free! yes, free.\n\naw sorry mom. looks like youre stuck in the basement forever. cuz no one's listening.
595004
can you lower the gas prices then please?!?!?! lol
589268
I think if we all had solidarity we could pick one of the big oil company's each month and not buy from them. Forcing them to scale down or sell their oil wholesale to the other company's. Let's say for the entire month of June we don't buy any products from Exxon/Mobile. That might get their attention.
438516
It is ridiculous,  and I am scared about it.  The gas prices drive up the prices of all other products because, the products have to be driven to the stores in trucks run with gasoline.  So, not only do we end up paying more for gas, but for everything else as well.\nNow, I suppose for the upper and probably mid-level middle class this isn't that huge of a deal, but if you are mostly paycheck to paycheck, like my family, this can really hurt.\nOf course the rich get richer....that's just the way it goes.\nAnd what bugs me is that there isn't even a good reason for this gas spike...it is just speculation in the market driving up the price....\nWhere is our president when we need him?  He is NOT here for the majority of citizens in this country.  He has an agenda that goes against helping his own country, and that is pathetic.
517097
They (I assume you mean oil companies) have every right to raise prices.  Its called capitalism!  If you want to be picky, why don't people protest bottled water or movie popcorn?  Its profit margin is a helluva lot higher than gas.  \n\nThere are a lot of other options for people if they think gas prices are too high.  Don't drive! Ride a bike, walk, public transportation...
371004
Most gas stations, even those with well known names, will typically get their gasoline from the most economical source as long as it meets their specifications. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy from a local refinery and save the cost of hauling from your own refinery.\n\nActually I buy a lot from Exxon because their prices are 1 to 3 cents below the next closest gas station.\n\nThe idea that you can force gas prices down is a pipe dream. You can boycott all you want, there is a very high demand for gasoline and that will only go higher with a resulting further rise in gasoline prices.
613084
◙ the only way to get gas prices to go down is for everyone to stop paying them. you can't blame them for their high prices. you can only blame yourself for paying them.\n\n◙ here in east moline illinois gas is $2.53 :)
56310
No, you are not the only one.  I thought that it was horrible that our government would allow that to happen. Perhaps because of the stake Bush has in oil...?\nTaking advantage of a national crisis like that is disgusting to me, and completely morally wrong.  But who is to blame? I say the government- they need to monitor and control gas prices better.\n\nIn response to the other answer, bottled water is an option for people.  People do not need bottled water to get to and from their jobs so that they can make money to feed their families.