CobraJ
All-Star Author
Tampa
Posts:998
Points:376,085
Joined:Mar 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2011 4:32:02 PM
Boycotts, gas outs, or whatever you call it are good efforts, but don't waste your time. Unless the whole world shuts down everything that burns oil, any products refined from oil (i.e. gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, propane, heating oil, etc, etc, etc.), or anything manufactured from oil, it's a useless campaign that will only put a tiny blip on oil companies radars. They have other ways to make their profits regardless of whether you don't buy gas on this date, that date, or whatever date because these companies have other ways to profit from selling their petroleum products. And even if you don't buy gas on such and such a date, someone else will buy gas in your place.
People have to remember that it's not only automobiles (cars, trucks, 18-wheelers, RVs, buses, etc, etc.), motorcycles/ATVs, and boats (small boats, sail boats, yachts, etc, etc, etc.) that use gasoline and diesel fuel. There are other things that use oil and its by-products. Jets, airplanes, helicopers, and hover craft use aviation fuel to fly and transport passengers and cargo; trains run on diesel to run their giant diesel engines; power companies burn oil to run power plants; construction equipment run on diesel to build roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure; and ships carrying passengers, cargo, commercial equipment, scientific equipment, etc, etc., use diesel fuel to run their diesel engines and power generators. Manufacturers and factories use oil to run manufacturing equipment and they use oil bi-products to make thousands of consumer goods that we all use every single day. How about farmers and their farming equipment and tractors, they would have to shut those down too. Don't forget small engines used in things, such as, chainsaws, lawnmowers, powerwashers, snow mobiles, jet ski's, etc, etc, etc. And what about heating oil which is made from crude oil and used to heat homes. Let's not forget propane used in BBQ grills for camping, tailgating or having a family picinic or used to run LPG powered cars and generators. Yes. You would have to stop using that too. This is only a small list, but every one of these things would have to cease all over the world in order for it to really make a huge impact which isn't going to happen. In another way of saying it, we all would have to revert back to the stone ages. To see exactly how oil used and what's made from oil, go to the following link: /products.html
Now you can blame the oil speculators for driving up the price because they're reacting to world events, such as the conflict in Libya and the disaster in Japan, but they're part of the reason why oil prices are so high. Oil is traded globally in U.S. dollars, but because the once mighty dollar is now weak compared to other world currencies, anytime it's value (exchange rate) changes it affect the price of oil. So, if the the dollar goes lower/weaker, then the price of oil goes higher because it makes oil cheaper to buy in foreign currencies and vice versa.
With all that said, the best thing you can do to ease your burden at the pump, is to conserve fuel by driving economically. That is, slowing down and driving the speed limit; coasting up to red lights in anticipation of the green signal; accelerating gradually as opposed to hard accelerating; maintaining your vehicle regularly; properly inflating your tires and rotating them at scheduled intervals; and avoid situations that wastes gas, such as, excessive idling. Unless it's really necessary, I won't ever go through a drive-thru, such as at a bank or at a fast food restaurant. I would rather park and go inside because it's better than sitting in line burning unnecessary fuel which most definitely decreases MPG. Other ways to save on gas would be to car pool so you don't have to drive your car every day or planning your driving route so you don't have to drive back and forth between places while running errands. In other words, start your errands from the furthest place and work your way home.
There are still many other ways to conserve fuel, but if you can do these things it will extend your dollar's worth per tank full and you won't have to visit the gas pump as frequently, thus saving you money in the long run.
[Edited by: CobraJ at 3/15/2011 4:37:10 PM EST]
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