lets visit the Boycott issue,I am interested in your thoughts.

[Lost4words]

OK, I know we still need to continue to purchase Gas, we cant cut out enough real use to hurt the oil industry. Those of us who still have jobs need to get around, there is no way around that fact.

Some of us only have 1 local gas station and have to patronise it, no choice.

BUT if we could agree on 1 target, lets say EXXON Mobil,and boycotted their stations, over time they would see the impact, make it socially incorrect to patronise the company that never paid a dime for the Alaska spill. We could even offer some folks a free gallon if they chose other than Exxon.

Corporations go ape shit when profits go down instead of up.

Naturally this WOULD hurt the station owners, which I dont like as some of them are in the same sinking boat as the rest. The station owners would hopefully complain to EM to clean up their act.

Why if we are consuming fuel at about the same rate and the oil price per barreel is passed along to the consumer,... Where do these MASSIVE profits come from?

Shouldnt the profits be about the same? The cost of refining couldnt have risen that much.

I think the answer is as plain as the devil nose on dimson.

We are being GOUGED, SCREWED, FUCKED, Laughed AT!

How long are we, as consumers, going to accept these crimes against the people?

My Question WHAT ARE WE GOING TO do about this? BECAUSE ITS CLEAR OUR ELECTED ONE WONT DO SHIT!

Dreamers disclaimer,
(In reality I do realise it is hopeless and there is Nothing we can do.)


Flame away!

:hi: 8643

[NightWatcher]

1. boycotts on one certain day would not help.

Some people would have to buy gas the day before the boycott and others the day after the boycott. This would make the net impact, zero. Most gas stations get gas twice a week and unless enough people stopped buying gas alltogether, and this isnt going to happen because we need to get to work- those of us with a job left.

[Lost4words]

5. I dont think you read my post,It wouldnt be for one day

but 1 COMPANY for an unlimited amount of time.

You dont think that if we could cut EM sales by 30% for a indefinate period they wouldnt feel the loss?

We cannot impact the industry BUT we could impact One company, yes/no!?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I say the best thing to do

is to come up with alternative means of transportation. I never learned to ride a bike (severe inner ear problems make it difficult to balance and even walk), but I'm seriously thinking of getting a three wheeler and using it to bike the 10 miles into work.

Hubby is doing research into converting one of our old dead cars. You can get kits to convert a gas engine to electric for around 10K. This is something that could be done here and now if you have the ability and cash.

[leftofcool]

4. Three wheeler, good idea!

Also, if they are still making those small moped like motorcycles. Those things used to get about 150 miles to the gallon. Can you do one of those with a motor even though it has two wheels with a severe inner ear problem?

[Lost4words]

7. Mopeds still use gas you are getting screwed over

Mopeds are great in the city but if you have any communte at all FORGET IT, youll be dead in a week.

[leftofcool]

10. Well, certainly around here on the DC beltway

[Warpy]

18. Hell, CARS aren't safe on the DC beltway

Tanks would be better. I'd suggest a "donk." http://www.amazon.com/JL421-Badonkadonk-Land-Cruiser-Tank/dp/B00067F1CE

For those who have never had the pleasure, DC is where men who are blinded by their own importance to the workings of the universe will drive right into you if you're in their way.

I had a VW bus when I was there. I toyed with the idea of doing the sides in artificial brick. I ended up painting it Day Glo just to wake the idiots up.

[Lost4words]

27. Warpy, I lived inside the Wash beltway for 27 years, off message

[Warpy]

36. Then try Snopes. This one has been done to death.

If you want to decrease prices, VOTE DEMOCRATIC.

It's the only way.

[Warpy]

12. They are indeed still making gas scooters

and now you can get the cleaner four stroke engines so you don't smell like a grease pit when you get to work. Vespa clones made in Asia are quite reasonably priced although the reliability isn't as good as the original.

They're also doing better with electric scooters for those of us who have only short hops to make. I've had mine for 5 years and I use it for all trips to the grocery, bank, post office, etc. I figure it's paid for itself already. I know nobody is laughing at it any more.

I'm seeing a lot more people on scooters in my part of town, gratifying because I'm close to the local university.

[leftofcool]

14. I would love to have one

I think that just might be my next investment. Thank you for the info.

[Warpy]

20. This is mine

http://www.egovehicles.com

The only thing I've had to do in 5 years is replace a few screws that have shaken loose on bad roads and fix one tire.

It's certainly an economical idea for urban transportation.

[Lost4words]

6. Who the Hell has $10,000 that Would do what you suggest???

its much better and less expensive to convert to Bio Desiel and you can go more than 10 miles!

Do you work for Exxon Mobil?

[bryant69]

8. That's uncalled for.

accusing someone of working for Exxon because they support electric cars? What is wrong with you?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Lost4words]

28. I am sorry, that was not nice of me, nothing wrong with me your 10K wouldnt help

[Name removed]

29. Deleted sub-thread

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

[leftofcool]

9. Is that what those cost?

I wasn't even sure they still made em.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

31. I think that is uncalled for

I was merely pointing out some options. Since, if memory serves, Exxon Mobil doesn't own the company making conversion kits, bicycles, or walking shoes, I think your remarks are a tad bit over the top. Biodeisel is an option my husband has not investigated, and therefore I could not say anything about it. I am interested. Why don't you give particulars, please?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

33. I understand your incredulity about the cost

But compared to a new hybrid, 10K for a conversion is cheap. It is not an option we can afford, either, which is one reason my husband is trying to figure out if he can use an air motor to run one of our cars. I really like that idea, because he already knows he can use our wind generator to create and store compressed air. No pollution, no using up food to make fuel.

[Lost4words]

37. Good luck with all that

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

41. Hey, if it works

you DUers will be the first to know. :)

[leftofcool]

3. The problem is, there is no way to get enough people

to boycott to make a difference. Your plan is good but when you have truckers, dozer operators, farmers with tractors and combines, and then the hard working family man who just needs to get to work to put food on the table, you have people with little choice but to buy gas where they can. I wish there was a plan that would work.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. It will work if it's strategically done.

Obviously, people who only have one gas station to go to cannot participate.

That means it's up to us in the big cities to hit 'em in the wallet.

There are intersections in Los Angeles (where I live) where there are gas stations on every corner. One of them can be boycotted. And just like all things in nature, we need to go for the weakest.

A boycott can work, we just have to be smart about it.

[leftofcool]

16. True, if we can get the right people to co-ordinate it, I'd go for it

[Lost4words]

30. Leftofcool, who would those people BE?

to build something, there must be development, something must be added to the foundation.

We have a foundation, our survival our future.

Help me build.

[Lost4words]

21. EXACTLY!! we dont have to put them under to send a message.

a double digit reduction in sales for a prolonge period would have EM shareholders tearing at the throats of the corporate leadership.

Broakerage houses would put pressure on the company.

And they would have a hard time keeping it out of the corporate media.

I do believe this kind of Targeted action would put some concern into the board room.

They know we cant boycott all fuel all the time, but we could certinaly impact one company in a BIG Way!

This could also be a tool to encourage smart political types to champion the issue once the nation sees what we, if unified, can accomplish.

If If a gang of 4 hoods beat you up every day you are never going to over power the group, but if you take them down one at a time.......

Dont let this die on the vien!

Is it commettie forming time?

[ColbertWatcher]

25. Okay...

...what factors do we look for in our target?

* smallest profit margins?
* douchbaggery of the CEO?
* ties to the Bush administration?

[Lost4words]

34. I think your points are spot on, as well as,

what we would like to accomplish.

An anitial commetti should be formed as I alone do not know how to determine the criteria, if we choose the CEO in bed with dimson it becomes a polotical issue and that would be counter productive. We want angry concertivites to be part of this. We could not afford to alienate anyone who might be of a mind to join this action.

I also do not believe we should try to cripple the company as they employ many Americans, so the action cannot be viewed as visious, we want fairness thats all, we do not want gouging of our compatriots during ression times, I have no problem with the companies making a fair profit.

But mammoth profits during a time whan most are choosing gas over food in order to stay employed is unacceptable and IMO Treasonious!

I believe that all that is needed is an impact even if in corporate terms it equates to minor losses.

The publicity is the big snowball we want to start rolling IMO.

To get activists discussing the issue. Isnt ripping off the public in a time of War a crime or at the very least should be.

PUBLIC OPINION can move mountains, we as consummers have never focused the laser onto just one target.

I am tired of being quiet and having no way to impact our opressors.

THIS COULD WORK!

WE CAN DO THIS?


It would impact very few in the urban areas choosing not to patronise one brand or outlet.

We have the power if we want it.

Think like an army not an Individual!

[ColbertWatcher]

39. We started this morning with the idea of pissing people off with flyers...

...we would hand them out at gas stations, really anywhere.

Just hand them to people (original thread)

That's like step one.

Get the message out there that whatever solutions the GOP is coming up with solves nothing.

Whether it's their "gas tax holiday" or drilling in ANWR, nothing the GOP suggests will lower gas prices; they are basically holding us hostage.

Next step is offer solutions or ways to get involved.

Call or write your elected congresspeoples. Boycott a gas station. ???

Then, we have to figure out follow through.

They will not view any action on our part as legitimate or acceptable and will strike back.

We should expect higher prices, more threats and the worst case scenario.

We will have to think about $5-$10 gas just before the election and then a drastic drop (to help Old Man McSame)

And we have to stick to our plans (?):

1. demand a reduction in gas prices to where they were before the oilmen took office
2. keep gas taxes where they are
3. end the price manipulation
4. end the obscene profits oil corporations are making through the manipulation

[Lost4words]

15. Thank You we dont need 100%, 25 or 30% would do the trick

Yes it would take work but WHO dosent want to give something back to our corporate overlords?

Writing our representatives has done nothing over the past years, the problem And the solution is in our hands if we want to take it.

It would have to be a multi prong approach, there are Republicans that are as pissed of as we are, some of them would join in as this is really not a political issue, it is a consumer issue, yes/no!?

And it would take time to ramp up but IT IS something the average Joe could do to send a message.

Again id doesnt have to be more than a double digit drop in their sales, then their stock would drop
so the depends adult diapers would be all over the Ivory towers of Exxon Mobil.

These execs dont give a shit about little people and their little problems, but they damn well care about their personal wealth and security.

And if, (in dreamland maybe), we could bring one giant to their knees, then we could do the same to another.

I am just saying!!!!

Thanks for the quality replays

[leftofcool]

17. Definitely a consumer issue and not a political one

[Lost4words]

22. Thanks! Are we not consumers? Are we not Men and Women?

Are we helpless or do we have strength.

[0007]

13. no flame from me. I think we have to try something.

I'm sure we can come up with something!

[Lost4words]

23. Thanks trip7 This really could have legs!

And the more press we get, the more press we would get!

I could be a guest on DemocracyNow with Amy Goodman (a personal dream of mine)

wHY WOULDNT CHURCH LEADERS BE ON BOARD WITH THIS? i THINK SOME WOULD.
( I hate the shift lock key)

8643

[cynatnite]

19. I haven't been to an Exxon gas station since the Valdez oil spill n/t

[Lost4words]

24. Nor I really unless there was no choice. n/t

[lonestarnot]

32. Me either!

[Lost4words]

26. With all the activists here, only 1 recomendation?

[Lost4words]

35. Please keep this kicked for max viewing!

[Lost4words]

38. self kick, but I already realise its pointless to try n/t

[bdamomma]

40. just a suggestion how about those who could use public transport

and leave your cars at home, would that make any difference.