Just heard this on the radio, pretty good premise.
www.boycottgas.ca
Randomly boycott one company for a month at a time.
www.boycottgas.ca
Randomly boycott one company for a month at a time.
www.boycottgas.ca
- Thread starter Cobster
- Start date
I think this is a great idea. The boycott against whichever company is chosen should last until they lower their prices to attract customers. When they do lower their prices, the boycott against them should be lifted and another company boycotted until they lower their prices to match and so on. I realize individual stations may not control the pricing but the multinationals will have to respond if their assertions that supply and demand dictate pricing is in fact true. Really....how long did it take to inflate the prices when there was a "shortage" for a short time. Imagine if they had slow sales for 30 days. Hmmm. At least it would confirm or deny their assertions that supply and demand dictate prices and not pure greed as many cynics believe(me included).
It sounds like a great idea. On March 28, they'll tell you which of Canada's 5 major gas stations to boycott for the month of April.
The idea will probably work and the chosen company will incur some noticable loss in sales. It would send a chilling message.
The idea will probably work and the chosen company will incur some noticable loss in sales. It would send a chilling message.
Cobster said:
Not in a million years.
I'll bet you the price of gas for a year that you can't get half the people on your block to organize themselves to the point of boycotting anything - and these are people you know.
Get your head out of your ass - focus on coming up with a viable solution other than boycotting (a strategy that has never really worked for anything).
The only way to stick it to big oil is to use less fuel... start buying more Smart cars, Toyota Prius' or if you need space and towing ability, get a Dodge Sprinter (which uses a high tech turbodiesel engine).
Another effective thing is to petition government to buy more fuel efficient vehicles.
Did you know that an old-style TTC bus uses 80L/100KM. That's right... 80 litres of Diesel for every 100 km... on average. The newer hybrid buses cut that by about 40%.
The TTC is already starting to buy diesel-electric hybrids.
And it's more or less the same situation for School buses, garbage trucks and big delivery trucks.
Going after a particular gas station only results in hurting the local little guy.
Another effective thing is to petition government to buy more fuel efficient vehicles.
Did you know that an old-style TTC bus uses 80L/100KM. That's right... 80 litres of Diesel for every 100 km... on average. The newer hybrid buses cut that by about 40%.
The TTC is already starting to buy diesel-electric hybrids.
And it's more or less the same situation for School buses, garbage trucks and big delivery trucks.
Going after a particular gas station only results in hurting the local little guy.
Nice idea, but it won't have the results they want. If we sucessfully boycott Esso (for example) then the people that own Esso gas stations will go out of business or at least have to let the people working for them go. All that gas that Esso is refining will be sold to the other gas companies. Since we are merely boycotting Esso without reducing our consumption then the other companies will buy Esso's surplus as that is easier to do that than ramp up their own refining output for what is (to them) a short-term problem. Once the next month's target company is chosen then the above scenario will repeat.
The only way to affect supply and demand is to reduce the demand. We consumers as a whole have to reduce the amount of gasoline we consume whether it be by buying more fuel-efficient vehicles, car-pooling, public transit, horses, etc. Only that will allow us to have an effect on the supply price.
The only way to affect supply and demand is to reduce the demand. We consumers as a whole have to reduce the amount of gasoline we consume whether it be by buying more fuel-efficient vehicles, car-pooling, public transit, horses, etc. Only that will allow us to have an effect on the supply price.
Cobster said:
Typical response - I need a problem solved now so I'll come up with a plan that isn't realisitic or probable instead of coming up with something viable for the long term. If someone doesn't think it will work (as it never has) then it becomes someone else's problem.
I'm not the one complaining about gas prices, or suggesting a futile and pointless boycott occur - you are.
You come up with something - you're bitching about it. Not me.
Cobster said:Well at least someone has come up with a viable option at the moment and if it gains some momentum, why not.
Your reply and your 2cents is as good as the shit my dog takes.
Keep it to yourself bud.
So any quick fix, even though it cannot have the desired result and will cause harm to those who have no control over the problem is worth doing?
It isn't a viable option.Cobster said:
Firstly, it doesn't address the core issues, nor will it affect those that control prices.
Secondly, it's been done. I first saw this suggestion something like 10 years ago. It has been tried. It doesn't work unless EVERYONE is involved, and that just isn't going to happen. Otherwise, those that aren't involved (the vast majority) see shorter lineups at the 'targeted' brand and promptly go there instead.
Cobster, it's a shame you had to lower yourself to insults. If someone should see the flaws in your suggestion they should keep it to themselves? Shoulda said that on your first post so we'd a know'd!
What are the boycottgas clowns trying to accomplish? Do they want the government to step in and regulate gas prices? Perhaps they want the oil companies to get together and come to an agreement on pricing?
If there's one faction that wants gas prices to be regulated, it is the oil companies. After regulation, even the individual gas stations might start to make some real money. Perhaps the boycottgas people are really oil comp execs, in disguise.
They surely cannot be so naive as to think that, if its price is regulated, gas will be cheap all the time! Can't they see that it's better to have fluctuating prices -- that way, at least we get it cheaper some of the time.
As in all things political, regulated equality means equal worst, not equal best.
If there's one faction that wants gas prices to be regulated, it is the oil companies. After regulation, even the individual gas stations might start to make some real money. Perhaps the boycottgas people are really oil comp execs, in disguise.
They surely cannot be so naive as to think that, if its price is regulated, gas will be cheap all the time! Can't they see that it's better to have fluctuating prices -- that way, at least we get it cheaper some of the time.
As in all things political, regulated equality means equal worst, not equal best.
Here's what I forsee as the result of this partial boycott if it was well followed.
If there are 5 major companies and we boycott one, the others will see a 25% increase in sales. This might result in short feul supplies at these 4 companies which as we have seen gives the companies justification for raising prices. The boycotted company will also be eager to make up for their losses when their boycott is over and will keep prices high. The gas supply becomes inconsistent and prices will stay high.
The only way this boycot will work is if everyone agrees to buy 20% less gas.
If there are 5 major companies and we boycott one, the others will see a 25% increase in sales. This might result in short feul supplies at these 4 companies which as we have seen gives the companies justification for raising prices. The boycotted company will also be eager to make up for their losses when their boycott is over and will keep prices high. The gas supply becomes inconsistent and prices will stay high.
The only way this boycot will work is if everyone agrees to buy 20% less gas.
Cobster said:Right and getting my head out of my ass (where it isn't) wasn't the first insult?
You can stfu now as well.
Well, aren't YOU special.
"He started it!" - good Lord, the average 10 year old doesn't use that excuse.
..I suppose you'll claim you're an ABOVE average 10 year old....
A boycott on gas prices is pointless because they are charging the rate the market is willing to bear. We may not like it, but we accept it enough to keep buying it.
If you want gasoline prices to stabilize or decline, first they need to climb far higher than they are now. Only then will you see demand decline. And that will reveal the true point...
Gasoline prices in Canada are right where they should be, if not lower.
Not to mention that gasoline prices are driven by the world prices for oil. Something a silly little "boycott" (and I use that term very loosely since you're still buying gas) isn't going to do a damn thing about.
If you don't like paying high gasoline prices, then do something meaningful about. Walk. Talk public transit. Sell that gas guzzler you're driving. Buy a hybrid vehicle. Ride your bike. Car pool. Etc.
But all those options would actually require YOU to do something now wouldn't it. It's much easier to whine about gasoline companies "gouging" you and getting them to reduce prices rather than YOU taking control over your own life and the choices you make.
If you want gasoline prices to stabilize or decline, first they need to climb far higher than they are now. Only then will you see demand decline. And that will reveal the true point...
Gasoline prices in Canada are right where they should be, if not lower.
Not to mention that gasoline prices are driven by the world prices for oil. Something a silly little "boycott" (and I use that term very loosely since you're still buying gas) isn't going to do a damn thing about.
If you don't like paying high gasoline prices, then do something meaningful about. Walk. Talk public transit. Sell that gas guzzler you're driving. Buy a hybrid vehicle. Ride your bike. Car pool. Etc.
But all those options would actually require YOU to do something now wouldn't it. It's much easier to whine about gasoline companies "gouging" you and getting them to reduce prices rather than YOU taking control over your own life and the choices you make.
