Today’s question, “Will the May 15 gas boycott accomplish anything?” – is an issue I actually forgot about until Tuesday morning. Since this blog is posted Wednesday, I’m not here to remind you about the “gas out” – just enlighten you about how it won’t do a damn thing to lower gas prices.
I was leaving my house yesterday morning on my way to the gym when I looked down at my gas gauge and noticed the little arrow was almost on E. As I was considering which gas station I could get the best deal from, the DJ on the radio mentioned the "gas out" and I realized this was the day I was supposed to boycott gas.
Looking again at the gauge, I decided I had enough gas to go to the gym and home before the arrow would officially hit the E. So I decided to abide by the “gas out” rules and just get gas tomorrow. Yeah, that’s serious boycotting right there.
This made me think – do people believe that boycotting gas for one day will actually make a difference?
I called my best friend and proclaimed my distaste for the way MySpace users started a hopeless boycott. He laughed and told me he had just filled up his car at BP where at least seven other dejected bodies also pumped gasoline into their hungry cars. He told me he rarely checks MySpace and word of mouth about the "gas out" had not yet reached him. I guess it didn't reach the other seven people either or maybe they just don't care.
Yet, even if the news about plans to boycott gas had reached more people, not getting gas for a day doesn't even qualify as a "boycott." By definition, a boycott includes doing without something in order to prove a point. The boycotted product is used as tangible proof to those who supply it that consumers are prepared to do without it unless changes are made. This “gas out” isn’t asking consumers to swear off using or buying gasoline, even for a short time, it just simply asks us to shift the purchase date by a couple days. Since consumers are not even attempting to make a sacrifice by actually giving up something, the threat it poses to price-happy oil suppliers is nonexistent. The sales missed from a one-day consumer boycott wouldn’t hurt the oil companies one bit.
So while the May 15 gas boycott may have done some good by calling attention to a problem, the message it sends out is that as consumers we need gas and can try to do without it for a day. Sadly, one day really won’t affect anything. If you want to take a stand and send a real message, let’s boycott gas for a week – who’s in?
Have a question of your own? Ask the UP! I will be accepting questions here as comments or you can e-mail them to me directly at mboyet@gmail.com. I want to hear from you, so please send me your questions.
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2 comments:
Whether its a national gas boycott emanating from MySpace or if it's frustrated students boycotting vending machines at FAU...it doesn't matter.
The sixties are over and the current crop of Americans (including me), are plagued by lethargy. Even as a so-called "conservative," I'm feeling the weight of the ever-increasing obesity of gas prices, but MySpace boycotts and Facebook groups aren't the way to go about it.
Is it a good start? Yes. Is it better than doing nothing? Yes. However, most importantly, we have to promote general social concern and less materialism in young people...and Ms. Boyet's blog is a step in the right direction, way to go Michelle.
Now, may I offer you the following words from singer/songwriter Don McLean, in hope of shedding a little levity on the discussion at hand:
"So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, "this’ll be the day that I die. 'this’ll be the day that I die.' "
However, if people got frustrated with one gas station and only boycotted that one, a serious dent could be made into at least one of the oil companies...
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