Here's how you can lower gasoline prices »
Posted by: STONERS 1 year, 3 months ago126 Comments Report this Story
Our column last week ââ;¬" on the folly of this week's e-mail-hyped gasoline 'boycott' ââ;¬" drew a ton of mail. Many readers took issue with our view that not buying gas on Wednesday ââ;¬" and just topping off on Tuesday or Thursday â&ac
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populist1 year, 3 months ago
maybe that would work, i don't know. but what i do know is that it could only be a short-term solution.
the real problem is that there's no competition in this industry. There's a few mega-corporations that control everything.
Only when there's free competition can prices come down....the question is -- how to open up the oil and gas markets to competition??
Some further reading on this:
"The Great Oil Robbery"
http://www.populistamerica.com/the_great_oil_ro...
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DEMONSLAYAR1 year, 3 months ago
Heres an idea. A one day boycott means nothing to oil companies. But if we all started a boycott of one particular company. That comany would really feel the pinch. Imagine if everyone stoped buying from exxon as i have. Now this would not lower the price of gas but oh what sweet revenge it would be. Just a thought
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wtagg1 year, 3 months ago
How does drilling for oil help when you have very little capacity to refine it? Refinery capacity has and still is the #1 problem, not crude oil supply.
I wouldn't be totally against drilling in ANWAR. The leases would need to include profit sharing for the US people. Say 50% for the oil companies and 50% for US citizens. That would be 50% of the gross, not the net. Never trust the net from a corporation. Ask the author of Forrest Gump. His deal was based on net profits. The producers tried to say theat the movie never made money.
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Teaselle1 year, 3 months ago
I find a flaw in your reasoning. Here's another plan to help in that regard: make cars that don't run at such outrageous speeds and use so much gasoline. The more powerful the engine, the more gas you use racing back and forth. Look, everything nowadays is instant gratificaiton, including driving. People are in a hurry to get here or there. As time goes on more and more people will want faster and higher performing vehicles.
And those of us who live in the real world, we know these steps aren't going to help. Some of us will follow them, others won't. Unfortunate.
What makes me mad is all this talk about alternative fuels and all the research that has to be done. Most other countries and auto manufacturers have done the research. Main reason we don't use - these alternatives would not line the pockets of Big Oil.
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lwjr1 year, 3 months ago
good grief, maybe the reason we do nott use the technology, is there is hardly any demand. You know, it is a supply and demand kind of thing. Of course if you want to bring prices down, we need to open up drilling off the coast of Florida and California. Also, open up ANWAR for drilling as well. Since we have not built any refineries in 25-30 years that might help as well. Of course, the enviromental Nazi's will have none of that. So in the mean time, enjoy your $3.00 per gallon of gasoline. My SUV does>
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geoffinak1 year, 3 months ago
Of course the technology is there, the simplest is Natural Gas, plenty of it and emissions go to almost zero. Alaska has enough KNOWN reserves to power this country for 150 years. The oil companies do not want this pipeline built, so are fighting it with everything they have. Natural gas will not sell for $3 a gallon, so the oil companies who own the TAP refuse to let it through. There was just a bunch of state legislatures and the Senators Son a ex legislature indicted in Alaska taking 10 of millions of dollars and promised cushy well paid jobs if they passed legislation that was for less restrictions on the oil companies. Those people in political office should spend life in prison for taking money for a vote. That;;s how bad the oil companies do not want this. Natural gas will run your car, make electricity, heat buildings, replace a lot oil does until the oil companies have to come up with alternative fuels. Hey they used to make wagon wheels and I bet those companies did good.
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TechnologyExpert1 year, 3 months ago
Simple step #2: I've been advocating for some time that we go back to a 55 mph speed limit. Let's face it, that would mean we'd really all be driving 70 instead of 80.
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tehranchik1 year, 3 months ago
If I had a car I would do this. I'm going to ask my friends who are like mined in this to follow these easy instructions. We really can make a dent. Who knows--if there's a ripple this time--maybe next time there will be a big wave.
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SusanParrish1 year, 3 months ago
Apparently ningyo likes paying high prices for gas and being dependent on foreign oil sources.
Hey ningyo, if you think it's so great, send me some gas money, I could sure use it.
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BronxBomber1 year, 3 months ago
Hey Stoner's!
One person visiting somebody in my building was caught trying to 'syphon' gasoline from a parked car in the lot, using a rubber hose! He was'nt aware that there were security comera's around the parking lot. LOL!
Security caught him. Brought back memories of the '70's gas crises when motorist's were that desperate. I hope that trend ain't comin' back!
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tommmmie1 year, 3 months ago
I have 5 married kids and 9 driving grandkids. We have picked a brand of gas in our area and are boycotting this one brand. We are all telling all our friends the brand name and spreading the boycott within our own network of family and friends to avoid any legal suits. We hope somehow it gets to all of you thru your contacts.
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natashas1 year, 3 months ago
I have reduced 36 miles this week. I am aiming for 50 next week. I like the idea of not leaving my house. My yard never looked better!
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nostalgia1 year, 3 months ago
Another easy way to reduce gas consumption is to plan ahead and do all errands in one day - grocery store, bank, post office, hair cut etc.
When I forget something at the grocery store, I call my husband or son and have them pick it up on their way home - both drive right by a grocery store
I've been able to cut the amount of gas I use in my car way back.
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Harbeas1 year, 3 months ago
We can all cut back on gas usage by following these suggestions and others that are routinely published in newspapers, magazines , radio, etc. Unfortunately we have too mnay people who resort to the time honored remark, "This is a free country and I can do as I wish". They don't allow anyone to tell them what they can and cannot do. They will continue to go from 0 to the speed limit in 1.3 seconds and slam on their brakes instead of gradually slowing down. Go the speed limit, ha, they don't agree with it and they will go as fast as they want. It's too bad because we could cut down on gas consumption.
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civildutybound1 year, 3 months ago
I thought that since driving reduced speeds might save fuel,lives and money. Wouldn't driving minimum speed limits (40 MPH on most freeways) at rush hour times in all the major cities save lives and fuel mpg? Well, maybe not the mpg, but it would save lives! Traffic would be so bad most couldn't get to work on time. But, oh well, knowing how our politicians are concerned with this fleecing of American drivers let them and big oil interests worry about that. Employers may have to live with the grim fact that we will need to stay home on certain agreed upon days to alleviate conjestion. Maybe we could stay home on weekends for a while to further fuel conservtion.
Since oil refineries can't keep up with demand we need to conserve the oil company's precious fuel resources. We should boycott as frequently as possible. This should decrease our dependence on foreign oil and possibly help make roadways safer. Let's think about letting our wheels roll slower. Save lives. Save gas. Save money.
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Reignman1 year, 3 months ago
I agree nostalgia, if we just used our heads a little more, instead of making back and forth trips that would help substantially.. Do your shopping, your errands, post office, dry cleaning all at one time.. I myself drive a large suv, and Ive noticed a big difference. While driving a big Suv is not a choice for me its a must have, we can all do our part to cut back on fuel consumption.
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n8311 year, 3 months ago
Longer would be better. The problem is when we don't have enough people that would actually, walk the walk. I am not saying you, so please don't take offense, but we need to get the word out to everyone we know to do this to make it work. It would take a lot of people boycotting to make a difference. Probably more than we think.
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gooniegoogooz1 year, 3 months ago
Well, if the answer is simply supply vs. demand, then nobody should have a problem with the higher prices. Because, the higher cost will make demand go down, that's a fact. So then a higher price per gallon is a good thing! Then we can stop whining about things and get off this keyboard and CHANGE OURSELVES to make a difference!
Consider that gasoline prices here are half the price of, say, Pakistan (about $1.50 a liter or just under $6/gallon ). Itself an oil producing nation (ironically), where the average wage for the average person is about $150 a month.
So what does everybody do there? Converts their car to CNG (clean natural gas), that costs about 1/5th the cost to operate a commute in an otherwise equal gasoline automobile. They walk when they're going a few blocks to the market. They have specialty carpool systems that have cropped up.
I do realize that we are not a 3rd world country nor do we want to be one, but given that imagine what we could do over here!
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cjsmay1 year, 3 months ago
Driving 40 mph will increase gasoline miles per gallon substancialy.Save you lots of money on fuel.
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Sieben1 year, 3 months ago
How was the President able to bring the gas prices to under $2.00 during the congressional election??????????? After the elections and the republican defeat the price went up & Up Whyyyyyyyy... "ONLY IN AMERICAN"
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Sieben1 year, 3 months ago
How was the president able to bring the gas prices down to under $2.00 before the congressional election?????????? After the defeat of various republican congressmen and the election,the prices started to climb and are still climbing "WHY" "ONLY IN AMERICA"
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Electrocon1 year, 3 months ago
Like populist, I've been vehicle-free for the past 3 years and it's GREAT! Too bad this isn't an option for everyone.
Even before giving away my vehicle, I switched to riding my bike almost everywhere and only used the truck when I absolutely had to. And this was long before gas was $3.25 per gallon or more. I even had a cool trailer I could pull with my bike to go and get groceries. I got it at www.bikerev.com
I realize it's not a short-term solution, but perhaps if people started demanding plug-in electric cars they'd get here sooner.
I'm not talking about hybrids, I'm talking about cars you can plug in at night and drive for 150-200 miles or more on a charge. They're too expensive for most people right now, but a few companies have produced (and sold) cars that can do exactly this:
www.teslamotors.com
www.zapworld.com
www.hybridtechnologies.com
Think about this:
Electric motor, plus Efficient (and eventually fast-charging) Lithium-ion batteries, plus Solar Panels = FREEDOM!
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Mowens19841 year, 3 months ago
If they only manage to drive 150-200 miles per charge, there'd need to be alternative for bigger vehicles (semi's who drive several hundred miles a day)... also every hotel and gas station or the gas station equivilant would need these installed.
How long do they take to charge?
Has anyone else heard about that new fuel alternative... I saw it on the Discovery channel or something. The people said that they drove roughly 200 miles to a gallon.
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Ratskii1 year, 3 months ago
Bravo to those people who have learned to get by without a car. I feel great admiration for you. Alas I'm not, but agree with the article that it is incumbant on us to reduce our usage. An additional thing that those of you who are physically able can do is to use a hand-push lawnmower. They reduce noise pollution too. One trick is to do a little (1/4 to 1/8) of your lawn every few days so the grass doesn't get to high to mow by hand.
Also when you do several things, which require use of your car, on a single trip -- plan to do them in a circle, taking first the one the requires that you go in one direction and moving to the others in such a way that you return from the other direction.
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schorert1 year, 3 months ago
How the hell does this hurt gas companies at all? are you people nuts, do you think they live hand-to-mouth and have a real cash-flow problem?
You're not talking about using LESS gas, you're talking about putting off buying gas for a day? oooh that'll hurt! Yeah, I think exxon can live without your $50 for 24, or 48, or 72 hours...they'll still get your money by saturday. oh no, we made $10B in profit last quarter, and now we're missing out on the interest from 100million for a day. Gee, if I was exxon, I'd raise the wholesale price half a penny on tuesday, why not, there will just be higher demand on weds...not lower.
Gee, what if instead of not buying gas for a day, we didn't DRIVE for a day?? nah, that would actually be an inconvenience.
Oil co execs must just laugh out loud when they read this annual gas-out email.
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ningyo1 year, 3 months ago
boycotts like this are typical feelgood liberal nonsense that accomplish absoloutly nothing..but make everyone who doesnt buy gas tomorrow feel superior to those that do--boycotts in general have no real point or function in a democracy or free market--why dont you all come right out and say what you mean as hillary did..im going to take those profits---what you really are and want is socialism--but that hasnt ever worked anywhere and wont work here..and would never get voted for if your candidates were honest--so you have to hide your real intentions..fakes ..phonies..frauds
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agentX1 year, 3 months ago
I disagree with the author's notion that a boycott would have no effect on gas prices. I doubt it'll fall more than 5 cents though.
I do like his idea that people need to stop driving aggressively and not drive so fast for so long. Pay attention Miami Florida drivers; he's talking to you.
We also need to get those Hummers and craptastic 4 door stretch 70s Cadillacs and old 57 Chevy's off the market.
I would impose a mandatory fuel economy standard above a certain limit depending on vehicle type. I would also set a standard as to what should be considered a car and a'light truck'.
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agentX1 year, 3 months ago
Great, another free-market looney toon.
It's pretty obvious this choice is going to have to be made by consumers and government; you can't count on the automakers to do anything other than stall and screw up. The automakers can't even make a profit with what they've got so clearly they can't be counted on.
Do we need vehicles on the road that can only get 10 miles to the gallon? No.
Use some common sense. Don't be a Bushie.
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schillinfl11 year, 3 months ago
Great, another socialist trying to tell us what we can and cannot own.
Use some common sense. Don't be a Stalin.
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ABANOCLA1 year, 3 months ago
I hope the price goes up 20 cents tomorrow, then on wed folks wish they would have bought...lol
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themim1 year, 3 months ago
I said it last week: I am not buying gas tomorrow, or next Tuesday either. I am not going to a gas station for the next three months of Tuesdays. You should all do the same.
I plan to stop driving on Sunday as much as I can. I did not drive at all yesterday; I rode my bicycle.
To do nothing is just being part of the problem.
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Nowalive1 year, 3 months ago
I buy gas once per week. It makes no difference. What the organisers of these "gas outs" fail to realise is NO ONE fuels up EVERY day. If you don't buy it on Tuesday, you'll buy it on Thursday. The article is right though. DRIVING STYLE has more to do with fuel economy than you are led to believe.
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erichtroy1 year, 3 months ago
I had an idea that sounds legit enough I think.. If everyone remembers back in the 80's the problems we were having with gas prices back then. One solution is to try to get 1/3 of the vehicles off the road by simply carpooling again. If a company has 26 employees and at least 1/3 of them carpooled, it would remove 8 vehicles off the road each day. Now, alternate vehicles on a daily or weekly basis. Share the expenses also. A few bucks each week from fellow employees may mean keeping the emissions and the consumption at lower levels, so, you'll spend less at the pumps per week. If 4 friends agree to carpool, one per week, that's three weeks one employee's vehicle is not on the road.
If everyone started taking part in carpooling then it would cut down on oil and gas consumption by 1/3 eack week. 1/3 of the population off the roads is alot which equals more money in your pocket.....
Carpooling also helps the environment. Little steps, little ripples...
Erich
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Nowalive1 year, 3 months ago
I proposed a plan years ago for tax incentives for large corporations to offer shuttle service from park and ride type lots into major cities. This was designed to reduce fuel consumption and traffic congestion inside the largest cities. I found that in one large employer here in Philadelphia, that over 200 of it's employees lived in my area and all drove into the city. If a sattelite lot were constructed by companies partnering up and offering shuttle service into the city the savings would be phenomenal.
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ABANOCLA1 year, 3 months ago
Only Bush can control the prices, just ask some folks and that is what they think..lol
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