Andre, while I appreciate your effort and the info, 'copy & pasting' an entire article violates forum guidelines :(
"Please use the forum to publish YOUR on-topic composition; in which can be included appropriate selected EXCERPTS with reference links (URL) to 'more' content" MoreAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/message/55938 Moderator, Terry Liberty Parker --- In [email protected], "Andre Kenji de sousa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm? pubdate=051607&story=tp1ch6.htm&folder=NewsArchive2 > > 05/16/07 > > Fuel follies > > E-mails urging gas boycott have little effect > > There's a Shakespeare quote for practically any occasion. > > But you don't even need to look past the table of contents to find the > title of a Shakespeare play that fits Tuesday's Internet-driven > gasoline "boycott." > > Try this: "Much Ado About Nothing." > > Local petroleum retailers were either unwilling to talk for the record > or -- much more common -- totally unaware of an e-mail campaign urging > consumers to strike a blow against oil companies by not buying > gasoline on May 15. > > One of the few who was paying attention to the so-called "gas-out" was > Alex Patel, manager of Ted's Food Mart, 22700 Bayshore Road, Port > Charlotte. "Customers have been coming in normally," Patel said. He > added that he had heard about the e-mails, but hadn't given them much > credence. > > At least some consumers were aware of the boycott. "You know, I read > something in the paper about that. And if I would have remembered, I > would have participated. But I needed the truck today," said Rowlyn > Eckert, of Punta Gorda, while fueling at the Race Trac station in > Charlotte Harbor. > > "If you need gas, there's not much you can do," said Barry Googins, as > he filled his van at a Sunoco station in Englewood. > > Among the many logical gaps in what's basically a chain letter is any > explanation of how a one-day boycott is going to force prices down. > Especially since demand for petroleum products is relatively inelastic > -- people have to drive, and nothing takes the place of gasoline for > this purpose. It can be assumed that any gasoline purchases that > weren't made Tuesday will simply be delayed until whenever the needle > is fluttering on "E." > > "It's kind of an urban legend," said Greg Laskoski, spokesman for AAA > Auto Club South. "There are claims that it first was tried 10 years > ago and was effective. But our information says that's not true." > > This year, "we don't believe this effort will yield any measurable > result," Laskoski continued. "The reason is simple. We're not changing > any consumption patterns. This e-mail or boycott is simply trying to > change purchasing patterns. The same amount of gasoline could be > expected to be purchased -- just on a different day." > > Still, nothing puts fear into American consumers than gas prices. Even > those who are too young to remember the gas lines of the 1970s > understand that dependence on foreign oil is the great weakness of the > U.S. economy. > > Whoever's promoting gasoline boycotts lacks even the most elementary > understanding about how global petroleum markets function, said David > Mica, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Council. > > "The worst they could accomplish is hurting a local dealer, if they > boycott an individual station. But the global supply of oil is > internationally traded -- and demand is at a peak level," Mica said. > > It's understandable that consumers are unhappy about $3-plus gasoline > as the Memorial Day weekend approaches. But Mica noted that high > prices make it more attractive for petroleum companies to explore new > technologies that might help stabilize prices in the future. The > industry-wide trend is that the yield of gasoline from a barrel of > crude oil is gradually increasing, all thanks to new technology. > Meanwhile, crude futures are holding in the mid-$60 range. > > Although perhaps offering less emotional satisfaction than a boycott > that promises to "stick it" to oil companies, there are a number of > practical measures that consumers can take to make the most out of > each fill-up. And they've even been vetted by the AAA. > > Consolidate your trips. Don't gun the engine. Observe the speed limit. > Avoid quick stops and starts. Change your air and fuel filters. Keep > your tires inflated to the manufacturer's specs. > > "One of the most simple common-sense items is to lighten your load. > People drive around with a ton of junk in their trunks -- like golf > clubs back there, which they use maybe once a year," Laskoski said. > > Staff photographers Sarah Coward and Molly Dempsey contributed to this story > > By BOB FLISS > > Charlotte Business Editor >
