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Here's how you can lower gasoline prices »
Posted by: STONERS 2 years, 7 months agoOur column last week ââ;¬" on the folly of this week's e-mail-hyped gasoline 'boycott' ââ;¬" drew a ton of mail. Many readers took issue with our view that not buying gas on Wednesday ââ;¬" and just topping off on Tuesday or Thursday â&ac
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Comments: 130
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STONERS
May 14, 2007, 12:22 p.m.With just two, simple, no-cost steps, drivers could send prices tumbling
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tehranchik
May 14, 2007, 12:47 p.m.If I had a car I would do this. I'm going to ask my friends who are like mined in this to follow these easy instructions. We really can make a dent. Who knows--if there's a ripple this time--maybe next time there will be a big wave.
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SusanParrishComment has been removed: User banned.
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BronxBomber
May 14, 2007, 1:19 p.m.Hey Stoner's!
One person visiting somebody in my building was caught trying to 'syphon' gasoline from a parked car in the lot, using a rubber hose! He was'nt aware that there were security comera's around the parking lot. LOL!
Security caught him. Brought back memories of the '70's gas crises when motorist's were that desperate. I hope that trend ain't comin' back!
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tehranchik
May 14, 2007, 2 p.m.I've just sent an email to 200 contacts asking them not to buy gas tomorrow. Everyone should do the same.
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natashas
May 14, 2007, 2:53 p.m.I have reduced 36 miles this week. I am aiming for 50 next week. I like the idea of not leaving my house. My yard never looked better!
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nostalgia
May 14, 2007, 3:08 p.m.Another easy way to reduce gas consumption is to plan ahead and do all errands in one day - grocery store, bank, post office, hair cut etc.
When I forget something at the grocery store, I call my husband or son and have them pick it up on their way home - both drive right by a grocery store
I've been able to cut the amount of gas I use in my car way back.
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Harbeas
May 14, 2007, 3:21 p.m.We can all cut back on gas usage by following these suggestions and others that are routinely published in newspapers, magazines , radio, etc. Unfortunately we have too mnay people who resort to the time honored remark, "This is a free country and I can do as I wish". They don't allow anyone to tell them what they can and cannot do. They will continue to go from 0 to the speed limit in 1.3 seconds and slam on their brakes instead of gradually slowing down. Go the speed limit, ha, they don't agree with it and they will go as fast as they want. It's too bad because we could cut down on gas consumption.
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NewportTom
May 14, 2007, 3:23 p.m.A boycott won't work, but if EVERYBODY did not go to work for a few days and we just stayed home and did not spend any money at all, the prices would fall. It would scare the heck out of the big bosses everywhere. We could then work on getting a 6 week vacation for everybody, paid!
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Reignman
May 14, 2007, 3:32 p.m.I agree nostalgia, if we just used our heads a little more, instead of making back and forth trips that would help substantially.. Do your shopping, your errands, post office, dry cleaning all at one time.. I myself drive a large suv, and Ive noticed a big difference. While driving a big Suv is not a choice for me its a must have, we can all do our part to cut back on fuel consumption.
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civildutybound
May 14, 2007, 3:34 p.m.A one day boycott of gas is definately an attention getter for those of us that want the prices to become reasonably affordable again. There is nothing wrong with this at all. However, we should carefully solicit a boycott on fuel for much longer increments of time.
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gooniegoogooz
May 14, 2007, 4:38 p.m.Well, if the answer is simply supply vs. demand, then nobody should have a problem with the higher prices. Because, the higher cost will make demand go down, that's a fact. So then a higher price per gallon is a good thing! Then we can stop whining about things and get off this keyboard and CHANGE OURSELVES to make a difference!
Consider that gasoline prices here are half the price of, say, Pakistan (about $1.50 a liter or just under $6/gallon ). Itself an oil producing nation (ironically), where the average wage for the average person is about $150 a month.
So what does everybody do there? Converts their car to CNG (clean natural gas), that costs about 1/5th the cost to operate a commute in an otherwise equal gasoline automobile. They walk when they're going a few blocks to the market. They have specialty carpool systems that have cropped up.
I do realize that we are not a 3rd world country nor do we want to be one, but given that imagine what we could do over here!
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cjsmay
May 14, 2007, 4:56 p.m.Driving 40 mph will increase gasoline miles per gallon substancialy.Save you lots of money on fuel.
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Sieben
May 14, 2007, 6:48 p.m.How was the President able to bring the gas prices to under $2.00 during the congressional election??????????? After the elections and the republican defeat the price went up & Up Whyyyyyyyy... "ONLY IN AMERICAN"
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Sieben
May 14, 2007, 6:52 p.m.How was the president able to bring the gas prices down to under $2.00 before the congressional election?????????? After the defeat of various republican congressmen and the election,the prices started to climb and are still climbing "WHY" "ONLY IN AMERICA"
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Electrocon
May 14, 2007, 7:30 p.m.Like populist, I've been vehicle-free for the past 3 years and it's GREAT! Too bad this isn't an option for everyone.
Even before giving away my vehicle, I switched to riding my bike almost everywhere and only used the truck when I absolutely had to. And this was long before gas was $3.25 per gallon or more. I even had a cool trailer I could pull with my bike to go and get groceries. I got it at www.bikerev.com
I realize it's not a short-term solution, but perhaps if people started demanding plug-in electric cars they'd get here sooner.
I'm not talking about hybrids, I'm talking about cars you can plug in at night and drive for 150-200 miles or more on a charge. They're too expensive for most people right now, but a few companies have produced (and sold) cars that can do exactly this:
www.teslamotors.com
www.zapworld.com
www.hybridtechnologies.com
Think about this:
Electric motor, plus Efficient (and eventually fast-charging) Lithium-ion batteries, plus Solar Panels = FREEDOM!
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Ratskii
May 14, 2007, 8:56 p.m.Bravo to those people who have learned to get by without a car. I feel great admiration for you. Alas I'm not, but agree with the article that it is incumbant on us to reduce our usage. An additional thing that those of you who are physically able can do is to use a hand-push lawnmower. They reduce noise pollution too. One trick is to do a little (1/4 to 1/8) of your lawn every few days so the grass doesn't get to high to mow by hand.
Also when you do several things, which require use of your car, on a single trip -- plan to do them in a circle, taking first the one the requires that you go in one direction and moving to the others in such a way that you return from the other direction.
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schorert
May 14, 2007, 9:01 p.m.How the hell does this hurt gas companies at all? are you people nuts, do you think they live hand-to-mouth and have a real cash-flow problem?
You're not talking about using LESS gas, you're talking about putting off buying gas for a day? oooh that'll hurt! Yeah, I think exxon can live without your $50 for 24, or 48, or 72 hours...they'll still get your money by saturday. oh no, we made $10B in profit last quarter, and now we're missing out on the interest from 100million for a day. Gee, if I was exxon, I'd raise the wholesale price half a penny on tuesday, why not, there will just be higher demand on weds...not lower.
Gee, what if instead of not buying gas for a day, we didn't DRIVE for a day?? nah, that would actually be an inconvenience.
Oil co execs must just laugh out loud when they read this annual gas-out email.
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ningyo
May 14, 2007, 9:35 p.m.boycotts like this are typical feelgood liberal nonsense that accomplish absoloutly nothing..but make everyone who doesnt buy gas tomorrow feel superior to those that do--boycotts in general have no real point or function in a democracy or free market--why dont you all come right out and say what you mean as hillary did..im going to take those profits---what you really are and want is socialism--but that hasnt ever worked anywhere and wont work here..and would never get voted for if your candidates were honest--so you have to hide your real intentions..fakes ..phonies..frauds
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agentX
May 14, 2007, 9:45 p.m.I disagree with the author's notion that a boycott would have no effect on gas prices. I doubt it'll fall more than 5 cents though.
I do like his idea that people need to stop driving aggressively and not drive so fast for so long. Pay attention Miami Florida drivers; he's talking to you.
We also need to get those Hummers and craptastic 4 door stretch 70s Cadillacs and old 57 Chevy's off the market.
I would impose a mandatory fuel economy standard above a certain limit depending on vehicle type. I would also set a standard as to what should be considered a car and a'light truck'.
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ningyo
May 14, 2007, 10:11 p.m.agentx -and who will decide what is an "acceptable " car to market..you??..typical big govt socialist viewpoint--this will drop prices by zero cents--but dont buy gas tomorrow..then you can look down on all of us who did--and the real reason for this isnt it
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themim
May 14, 2007, 10:14 p.m.I said it last week: I am not buying gas tomorrow, or next Tuesday either. I am not going to a gas station for the next three months of Tuesdays. You should all do the same.
I plan to stop driving on Sunday as much as I can. I did not drive at all yesterday; I rode my bicycle.
To do nothing is just being part of the problem.
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erichtroy
May 14, 2007, 10:22 p.m.I had an idea that sounds legit enough I think.. If everyone remembers back in the 80's the problems we were having with gas prices back then. One solution is to try to get 1/3 of the vehicles off the road by simply carpooling again. If a company has 26 employees and at least 1/3 of them carpooled, it would remove 8 vehicles off the road each day. Now, alternate vehicles on a daily or weekly basis. Share the expenses also. A few bucks each week from fellow employees may mean keeping the emissions and the consumption at lower levels, so, you'll spend less at the pumps per week. If 4 friends agree to carpool, one per week, that's three weeks one employee's vehicle is not on the road.
If everyone started taking part in carpooling then it would cut down on oil and gas consumption by 1/3 eack week. 1/3 of the population off the roads is alot which equals more money in your pocket.....
Carpooling also helps the environment. Little steps, little ripples...
Erich
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KingOfTruth
May 14, 2007, 10:39 p.m.You cannot lower gas prices any more than you can stop the sun from warming the earth.....what a bunch of mentally insane leftist maroons......
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ABANOCLA
May 14, 2007, 10:59 p.m.Only Bush can control the prices, just ask some folks and that is what they think..lol
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