On Boycotting Gas Companies

[AFFIRM]

There is an issue that can potentially cause these plans to be ineffective. There are a large number of "gas station companies" that buy their gas from Exxon/Mobil or whomever has the cheapest rate of the week. These "gas station companies" include: Speedway, Marathon, Phillips 66, Circle K, Clark, Starfire, Sheetz, Giant Eagle's Get Go and BJ's Clubs. I am sure this is only a partial listing. A good rule of thumb is that when you are pulling into a station, if you don't currently see their name on the sides of a tanker trucks on the highway, they bought their gas wholesale. You can not find out who they bought it from as they will not tell you and it often differs from week to week.

This boycott idea is excellent. It does need some tweaking though. Some stations that do not wholesale their gas from other companies are: Exxon/Mobil, BP/Amoco, Shell and possibly Citgo and Sunoco. I am not certain of the last two and there may well be others. Ultimately, we must first put these wholesalers out of business if we wish to start a true price war. The main reason the major oil companies allow them to exist is that their existence hinders a true price war from ever occurring. For example, If there is a backlash against Exxon/Mobil, they would simply begin promoting their product heavily through Speedway, Sheetz or another.

The emergence of a wholesale gas market is a pretty smart idea for the major oil companies. After all, who wants to promote a boycott against wholesalers? It almost sounds UN-American doesn't it? However, a national boycott of all wholesale gas operations will force a more direct competition within the marketplace. For example, Exxon/Mobil would then have to compete head to head against BP/Amoco. If at that time we are still unhappy with the price of gas, then we could mount a targeted strike against one of the major players, thus forcing the price back to near $1.50.

The ultimate solution therefore, is to boycott all gasoline wholesalers.

[Redstone]

1. Ain't gonna happen, ain't gonna work.

Directing your energies toward the possible would be more productive.

Redstone

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AFFIRM]

33. WOW

Exactly what is impossible about that? For example, I buy all my gas at BP. You might choose shell, or Exxon/Mobil, whichever. How hard is it to only buy gas at actual oil companies instead of those who buy from wholesalers? Besides, you would be cutting out the middleman.

[demosincebirth]

39. What they should do is pass legislation allowing only one or two

grades of gasoline to be sold. I have a new buick and the recommended grade of gasoline is 87 octane. They recommend that grade for 90% of the cars sold in in the U.S. Why do they need to sell three grades? I don't know anyone who uses hi-test gas. I think its a waste of refining capacity.

I also have a big block chevy p/u and 87 octane is the recomended grade.

[Maiden England]

66. My Harley uses premium

it also gets almost 70 mpg. I spend $5 a week on gas.

I say let the price rise until people wake the heck up and realize we need smaller cars, public transportation and a sense of personal responsibility.

[iconoclastNYC]

52. What a delightful contribution to the discussion!

:Sarcasm:

[kaygore]

2. The ultimate boycott is to cut back usage of energy

Keep the house cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer. Turn our lights. Walk. Etc., etc., etc.

[Redstone]

3. You're absolutely right. Compact-fluorescent light bulbs are a good start.

You can get them for less than a buck apiece nowadays. Change your whole house over to them, and you'll notice a difference in your electricity bill right away.

Redstone

[Flabbergasted]

7. Or perhaps Boycott GE altogether!

[Redstone]

12. GE makes CF bulbs. Why boycott them?

Redstone

[Flabbergasted]

20. Something about them being one of the biggest war profiteers of them

all!

[Redstone]

21. And you think a boycott would bother them? It wouldn't.

Again, expending your energies on the possible would be much mor productive.

Redstone

[Flabbergasted]

23. Well expending YOUR energy huffing gas would be much more beneficial

than posting on this thread. I'd love to hear some good ideas out of you Red?

[SeveneightyWhoa]

25. Actually, you're the one wasting energy.

This is a thread about boycotting huge oil companies (which would actually be beneficial), and you're piping in AGAIN with your "boycott General Electric" nonsense?

[Flabbergasted]

30. Actually I quite enjoy arguing with people who have nothing better to do

than moan about any possable good idea that comes along...Welcome Back Whoa

[SeveneightyWhoa]

44. Good idea?

Where, where?

[Redstone]

27. See my suggestion about CF lighbulbs. An idea, and a practical one.

It's something that people can do cheaply, can do now, and will actually make a difference, unlike pie-in-the-sky boycott dreams.

Next?

Redstone

[SeveneightyWhoa]

29. But, but...

Boycott GE!!

(Have you ever seen anyone with such a one-track mind?)

[Redstone]

31. Like I said, there's that Redstone's Rule, which I have not followed:

"Never argue with someone who gives the same answer to every question."

Don't know why I bother, nor why I don't follow my own rule. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who noticed that, though.

This is a place with a lot of monomania, isn't it?

Redstone

[Flabbergasted]

34. People respond to repetitive use of a term or phrase which means that

over time people will remember the terms (Nuclear Weapons, GE, and Boycott.) It will produce a hot button emotional reaction, given our current situation, which is exactly what botcotts require. Care to spread the word? Perhaps this is what is drawing you Red?

[Redstone]

37. Perhaps WHAT is "drawing me?"

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

Redstone

[Flabbergasted]

40. I think under the given world circumstances the left needs a hot button

issue that will guide us. I think a boycott of GE in responce to proliferation of nuclear weapons could be dynamite due to its emotional appeal to consumers. GE is a massive arms and nuclear supply dealer.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

42. GE is an arms dealer?

I had no idea.

Please provide some more info on this, because I don't know how that allegation stands up to the facts. Educate me.

[Flabbergasted]

58. Ok I really got to get home but for one thing they produce alot of the

jet engines that go in all those shiny new jets the Pentagon is flying all over Iraq. They also are heavilly involved in nuclear energy and related.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

61. That's funny.

I thought you said they were a "massive arms dealer"?

Now they just make jet engines and are involved in nuclear energy.. hmm.

Either you have no idea what this company actually does, or you're being deceitful and twisting language just to get people on your "side" (for a reason that I have yet to determine).

[Flabbergasted]

32. Meanwhile GE and Bechtel Builds nuclear Power plants in India

which will be used for weapons grade uranium. I don't know man I think the reality of Globalization requires a Global mindset which changing your lightbulbs is not.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

43. What do you have against nuclear power plants?

Would you prefer coal-burning power plants in India? :shrug:

Your consistent demonization of GE defies logic and reality. How do you expect to gain support for your "boycott" when you can't even escape attack from fellow liberals like me?

[Flabbergasted]

59. I don't need YOU to agree with me Whoa. Its the words "Boycott GE"

flashing across several thousand computer screens nation wide that is important. You are just fun to talk to. I got to go home to my wife and child.

Good Night!

[NuttyFluffers]

50. CF bulbs are just about the biggest savings you can do for home

HUGH savings! :evilgrin: besides, why pay more? i have a regular socket fluorescent bulb that has been working since 1994 and only now it needs to be replaced. that's huge savings, in energy, repeat purchase, landfills, etc.

;) besides, you can always buy non-GE CF bulbs... (fan the flames, fan them! :7 )

[Flabbergasted]

4. Way too complicated. How are you going to get that message across

Boycotts work with simple messages.

Like support the non-proliferation treaty Fuck GE

[BlueEyedSon]

6. The boycott idea will never work, please read and understand the following

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

[Flabbergasted]

8. Who gives a damn about Snopes. They don't want anything to work!

[BlueEyedSon]

13. YEAH, they all work for MOBIL!

please...

[Redstone]

17. Hey, BlueEyedSon, I think we need to apply Redstone's Rule #3:

"Never argue with someone who has the same answer for every question."

Seems like the case here, doesn't it?

Redstone

[BlueEyedSon]

63. Sometimes their answer is "TRUE"

[Redstone]

14. So even Snopes has a hidden political agenda?

Okay, sure, right.

Redstone

[Flabbergasted]

19. No.... I said that Snopes is of no value here.

No value!

[SeveneightyWhoa]

26. Whereas your GE boycott blather is?

What a laugh you are..

[Flabbergasted]

36. Ok Mr Whoa. Notice for example: Two weeks ago before I started

writing "Boycott GE threads" I had not read a single Boycott thread in months here. In the last few days there have been many. Its not a coincidence. There are mant examples of successful boycotts. This will be another.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

45. Yeah, no coincidence there. Great job on your part!

Just like Bill O'Reilly caused gas prices to come down, huh?

[patdem]

15. Sorry...CITGO IS THE WAY TO GO! Exxon-Mobil pulled out of

Venzuella cause they did not want to pay the extra taxes to the state...SO CITGO DOES NOT PURCHASE ANY OIL FROM EXXON-MOBIL!

[AFFIRM]

35. Finally!!!!!!

someone who gets it ... thank you patdem that is exactly what I had in mind when I began the thread .... buy from NO wholesalers

[RoyGBiv]

48. It's a bit more complicated than that ...

The thing about the taxes is extremely complex. Look into what Citgo is wanting to do with heavy-crude, and you'll start to hit the top of the conflict between Exxon-Mobile and Venezuela.

[TheFarseer]

55. Here's something that might work

It is quite correct that boycotting a brand won't work and the idea of not buying gas on a specific day is just laughable. The only thing that can have an impact is "don't drive anywhere for lunch days" If people would bring their lunch to work or walk somewhere close, it would save alot of gas. I hope someone will pick up on my idea or improve it and get something like this rolling.

[BlueEyedSon]

64. right, using less gas = less demand (as in "supply and demand")

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. BUSHCO HATES CITGO

BUY CITGO!

[patdem]

10. CITGO buys NO, NONE, ZILCH gas from Exxon Mobil..they pulled out

of Venezuella...SO IF YOU ONLY PURCHASE CITGO..no chance of purchasing Exxon-Mobil gasoline...

[NuttyFluffers]

47. thank you. K.I.S.S. don't boycott, buy Citgo! :D keep it down to 2 gas co.

Citgo and... i don't know, let's say Shell (completely random). and that's it. make sure they're prevalent throughout america and that's it. buy only from 2 companies. make a big ol' monopoly in 20 years (aha ha ha, like it'll all matter in 20 years).

Keep It Simple, Stupid. Buy Citgo and (Brand X). starve out the rest. :hi: very easy... just like using USPS for all your mailing needs -- i refuse to use UPS, FedEx, DHL. only USPS for me. do i care if some people think it won't matter? nah, i just consider most of them to be the 10% of the perpetually negative; they always say no, could hand them the world on a platter and they'd still say no. pick a course of action, stick with it, ignore the detractors -- if you notice it's how our president got everything he ever wanted. ;)

[RoyGBiv]

49. Not quite ...

This depends partly on what part of the country you're in. Citgo stations aren't necessarily selling Citgo gasoline, again, depending on where you are.

[Robbien]

11. Just buy Citgo, profits go to Venezuela not the oil giants

stay away from all the rest.

Much easier.

[RufusEarl]

16. A gas boycott, i've seen this suggested here allot lately!

And of course i've read allot of different reasons why it want work, and i'm sure most reasons why it want work are valid.

How about we try a different boycott? Let's try a national boycott, were we organize a nation wide boycott of the country.

I think i can safely say most of the folks posting here dislike Bush and what he's done and doing to our country, if so let's boycott Bush! seriously, let's not go shopping. Let's organize the country to take a day off and do nothing, do not spend one penny on anything.

If you work for a living call in sick, if you run your own business give everyone a day off. But the point is do nothing for one whole day and give corporate america and Bush the finger.

Just my 2 cents, i know it want happen but it would be fun to let the powers to be know that the citizen of this country still have the power to effect commerce.

[Redstone]

18. And bushyboy and them would give a fuck? You REALLY think they'd care?

It would be pointless. Remember, this is the guy who dismissed MILLIONS of anti-war protestors as "focus groups."

Redstone

[oscar111]

22. Boycotts were what the Apartheid rulers of S. Africa feared most

so never say boycotts are ineffective.

they are highly effective. And nonviolent too.

[Redstone]

24. Big difference of scale. Yes, I do know that the Selma bus boycotts were

effective (I've been around a while), but remember the difference of scale. There's NO large US corporation who would notice a one-day boycott.

And organizing enough people to make a corporation like Exxon notice anything is unrealistic.

That's why I keep saying that it's more productive to expend energy on the possible.

Redstone

[Lorax]

28. I have a great boycott idea

Conservation - the ultimate boycott.

[Redstone]

38. It's the ultimate. It would work. It's the ONLY thing that would work.

But, unfortunately, it means actually making some kind of sacrifice, albeit a minor one, and unfortunately an awful lot of Americans would rather grandstand and bitch and moan and complain than actually DO something, if doing something means driving a little less, or lowering the thermostat, or walking once in a while.

But your idea still has merit. Keep repeating it...every person you convince with your simple idea makes a REAL difference.

Redstone

[patdem]

41. CONSERVE? WTF? if you ONLY drive to and from work..and to and

from the grocery store...HOW TO CONSERVE..DO NOT DRIVE TO CA THIS YEAR FROM THE EAST COAST? WTF? NO...do not purchase gasoline from EXXON MOBILE...EVER...A SACRIFICE FOR YOU ELITEST FOOLS IS NOT THE SAME FOR US DRIVING 5 EXTRA BLOCKS TO A CITGO STATION TO PURCHASE GASOLINE IS OUR SACRIFICE!..:grr:

[Redstone]

46. I GUESS THAT POSTING IN ALL CAPS WILL TEACH US "ELITIST FOOLS" A

LESSON, WON'T IT? I GUESS YOU REALLY TOLD US OFF, DIDN'T YOU? WE'LL REMEMBER NOT TO DRIVE TO CALIFORNIA FROM THE EAST COAST, SINCE YOU REMINDED US THAT WE SHOULDN'T!

Redstone

[patdem]

51. A person can be an idiot..or an IDIOT...take your pick

If you do not work for Exxon Mobil I would be SHOCKED...SHOCKED I TELL YA!

[Redstone]

54. Stand by to be shocked...I don't.

Redstone

[SeveneightyWhoa]

57. Are you being sarcastic?

One of these might be nice next time:
:sarcasm:

[TheFarseer]

56. I hope to Christ you are not serious

about driving extra to go to Citgo. That just burns more gas. The only way to show them we're sick of this is to burn less gas. Drive less, try to drive at efficient speeds, drive when the traffic isn't so bad if you can, carpool, take a lunch to work instead of driving to the next state for lunch (people where I work seriously do that) Buy a hybrid if you are in the market for a vehicle. Burn less fuc*ing gas is the point. It's the only way we can do anything in the short term.

[patdem]

62. You are gall dern right I am SERIOUS..SERIOUS as a Heart Attack

BUY CITGO GAS...if your co workers go to another state to purchase lunch..they MUST pass by a CITO station ...tell them to buy CITGO...

YES...I will drive 20 miles to purchase CITO gas..if your co workers are driving to other states to purchase lunch..HELL YES...I will drive to purchase CITGO gas...MORE IMPORTANT..THAN THE SANDWITCH!

[savemefromdumbya]

53. We need trolleys, trams in cities and large towns

people in rural areas can have electric/battery vehicles.

[RoyGBiv]

60. One question ...

How?

First, I congratulate you wholeheartedly for displaying a greater understanding of how this all works than I've seen here in a long times. I've tackled this issue repeatedly, only to be shouted down as a shill for the oil companies, which would be exceedingly hilarious if I made clear the history I have with a couple of these companies, but I digress.

However, one unstated, but essential part of what you're talking about is the degree to which retail markets rely on the wholesale system just to maintain localized supplies. Consider what happened when wholesalers were under-supplied in the wake of Katrina. We had areas of the country not even affected directly by the hurricane that were extremely short on gasoline supplies, and this was only a momentary interruption. Note that I mention this not to praise the wholesale system, rather to point out how much we rely on it. Boycotting wholesalers is no simple task. I will suggest that for large portions of the population, it is effectively impossible for the simple reason that gasoline consumers in certain areas have no choice but to purchase from a gasoline retailer that purchases from a wholesaler.

And, FWIW, some stations sporting Sunoco and Citgo logos do in fact purchase from wholesalers. Whether your local Citgo does in large part depends where in the country you live. Generally speaking, Citgo has pulled out of the retail market in areas where its gasoline isn't sold, but this is a rule with many exceptions. I'm more unsure of Sunoco, but I know of one station in the DC area that doesn't sell gasoline refined by Sunoco.

The larger problem here is that the United States is an enormous country that was built with little thought to conservation of energy, both in the amount we consume and in the manner of its distribution. In recent years, energy companies have become more pragmatic about the distribution system, simply because it affects their profits, but their solutions are essentially intended to maintain supply in the face of overconsumption, not to promote conservation in any way. The wholesale system is a part of this, and yes it does benefit the energy companies far more than the consumers. However, getting away from it will not be done with a boycott of those wholesalers, imo, because doing so isn't possible in the manner you seem to be suggesting.

[AFFIRM]

65. Thank you ... another suggestion?

for the input. I am indeed just looking for solutions. I dont profess to know all, so again thank you for the input. Just another suggestion here: I dont know that this would neccesarily affect prices or not but .... with all the boycott talk I see on here - the target almost always seems to be Exxon/Mobil. If they are such an easy target, why oh

WHY HAVE I NEVER SEEN PICKET SIGNS AT THE ENTRANCES?

Pickets are quite effective in labor disputes, can people not make signs that will make Exxon/Mobil customers feel guilty for shopping there?