The Exxon boycott. Anyone participating? I am. Use other stations, please

[Acadia Blue]

[CountAllVotes]

1. I've been boycotting Exxon for a long time

ever since the Exxon Valdez "incident". :grr:

:kick:

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Haven't bought any since Valdez either.

[Radical Activist]

2. The buycott seems more effective.

Exxon isn't much worse than all the other stations. Buy gas at Citgo and your money will go toward a Latin American county that opposes Bush.

[Left_Winger]

5. I agree

and Citgo has the best prices (at least in my area).

[liberal N proud]

4. No Exxon/Mobil, NO Shell, No Chevron,

I also avoid BP when ever possible.

If I see a Citgo I will stop there over others.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. I had thought BP was a "good" one.

Relatively speaking of course.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

6. Someone much smarter than I demonstrated it wouldn't work.

That is, assuming the purpose of the boycott is to bring prices down. In short, bypass Exxon for someone else, and that someone else's prices will rise as demand for his fuel increases. Eventually Exxon will have the lowest prices and there will inevitably be backsliders.

[heartofthesiskiyou]

7. The big gobosh is in

For about two days there, places all over, even a whole county government in texass. Numerous seemingly spontaneous individuals, even O'Really said he'll never spend another penny at Exon on his national TV "show". Next day... Nothing... Not a single word mentioned after the day the Texass county announcement. O'Really, after three straight days mentioning it, hasn't said a word since.

I believe that a wide spread boycott, supported by, even a 10% of the joe six-pack crowd, would inevitably effect all suppliers, so I disagree with the "expert".

A week ago I was seeing a real possibility of a boycott developing. Unfortunately, our side of the spectrum seems to have fumbled the potential opportunity and are not even talking about it. It's too bad a half dozen Exon retail sites in a dozen cities would have tipped the balance in my opinion as the $400M retirement package was resonating. Unfortunately, without leadership from the activist community this will probably wither on the vine, though I still believe it's not too late but we're down to a window of opportunity of 7-10 days or so on this one.

But yea, I'm boycotting Exon. I've told a number of the local Backwashers that I'm supporting the call by O'Really for a nationwide boycott, which seems to be effective by quite a few of my neighbors. Our area is particularly RED.

Monday I was able to go into town, (I live thirty miles from our county seat and it's only a town of 25 K), as a one man show, with a big sign that simply said MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. When people would look over and see the sign I pointed to the price signs. Even the backwashers understood exactly what I was talking about. I'd say a majority of the bush bumper sticker crowd gave positive feedback with thumbs up or beeps. I think we're at a tipping point during the next thirty days were the negative feelings in the * community will become unable to turn back toward chimpy support. The pros say that the longer they stay in a negative attitude toward chimpy the more unlikely they will later come back before the election. Pollster pro's (Like the bald guy on CNN, can't remember his name right now) say 3-6 months in a negative stance become permanent and then effects the next election.

[MacDuff]

8. No - what's the point?

a) Why boycott Exxon-Mobil? - because they are making record profits at a time when oil is at an all-time high? Because their chairman got a disgustingly large bonus?

or are you doing it because you are angry at high gasoline prices and feel like attacking the wrong direction so you can feel like you are lashing out?

Exxon-Mobil sells 3% of the world's oil - so how do you suppose they are capable of manipulating the market? EM buys oil, like the rest of the world, on a worldwide market - that worldwide market is effected by supply & demand - China's demand is up, EU's is up, the US's is up - EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WANTS MORE OIL - and guess what? SUPPLY IS FLAT!!! so oil prices are high - driving gasoline prices higher
Supply problems in Iraq, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria all drive the price up - tension between the US and Iran is a MAJOR source of driving the WORLDWIDE price of oil up...
in addition to the supply/demand problem, US refining is down - Katrina took out a major % of the US's refining ability - and it hasn't all come back online yet - this creates a shortage of gasoline - driving the price up - also, US refineries are switching from using MTBE - a VERY nasty additive (cancer-causing) to ethanol - a switch that takes time & money, and is making gasoline supply problems on the East Coast and in Texas - driving the price up

b) the boycott has been very well debunked - you should look into it on Wikipedia (for example) - it can't work - unless your goal is to harm local gas-station owners (who make up 70% of Exxon-Mobil stations)? If EM's gasoline is not selling at EM stations, what do you think EM will do? just sit there and take it? or will they sell it to OTHER gas stations??? YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING where you gas comes from at the pump! NONE WHATSOEVER!! - EM can sell to Chevron, BP, Shell or ANY OTHER GAS DEALER - you will never know it, it happens long before you stop at your favorite non-EM station and fill your tank...

c) the problem with Supply/Demand issues is not going away - which means these prices are not going away (except for small fluctuations) - which means the US needs to start preparing - we're already behind the Eight-ball here and talks of boycotting a particular Oil Company WILL NOT PUT ANOTHER DROP OF OIL INTO THE GROUND!

[RebelOne]

9. I never buy Exxon or Mobil, anyway.

I buy my gas from the independent stations because their prices are lower. Occasionally, I'll buy Citgo, but only when I am cash-strapped because I have a Citgo credit card.

[freetheworld]

10. Buying Citgo Gas Is a TERRIBLE Idea

Having friends from Venezuela I have learned of the many atrocities that have taken place against free speech advocates there. The police and military have a long history of detaining activists and abusing them while they are being detained. Opposition parties are routinely intimidated by the ruling party and independent news sources are frequently censored. On top of that Venezuela has human trafficking problems and looks the other way when in comes to child labor.

By paying for gas at Citgo you are empowering a government that probably goes against 100% of what you believe. While continuing to support Citgo and the Venezuelan government you are giving ammunition for the right to attack you with.

IMHO it would be way wiser to stick with what we know is right and not take the philosophy that my enemies enemy is my friend. We are sleeping with the devil.

[Peggy Day]

19. welcome to DU

I mostly read articles, but mostly we get information here. I post some, but not much. Usually when someone that says something that is so contrare, they give a link to back up their claim. Nice, huh? That way we don't have lots of people just spouting stuff out.

[Peggy Day]

20. And, what do we know is right? nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. So I take it you would rather support Middle East oil

and the GWOT?

I'll take Venezuela.

[bloom]

11. Yes I am. I buy Citgo when it's available. nt

[Daphne08]

12. My husband and I are boycotting them.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Acadia Blue!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[RestoreGore]

14. Response to CEI Attack on An Inconvenient Truth

Patriots for Al Gore-Press Release/May 21, 2006

Patriots for Al Gore condemns the lies and scare tactics used by this puppet of EXXON and the oil lobby to discredit the science that has proven that humans are the dominant force in global warming.

CEI (one of over forty think tanks supported by EXXON) is attempting to discredit the information contained in the movie An Inconvenient Truth, and the work of scientists from NASA, the NSA, the IPCC, and the ACIA (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment) Project that unequivocably proves that humans are responsible for the current climate crisis we face due to the burning of fossil fuels. They claim Al Gore is using "junk science" to explain this crisis in this movie, yet that is all they have in attempting to keep this truth from reaching those who need to have it most: the consumers of this country who have been lied to by EXXON and their competitors for years as they put their profits before this human rights issue. It is then obvious that this movie and truth scares them as they fear it will cut into their profit margins.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in our country now is $3.00. When Bush first "took" office, it wasn't even $1.50 a gallon. There is a reason for that increase, and it is called getting political favors in return for donations to campaign coffers. And it is this greed that trumps morality that is also exacerbating the conditions this planet now finds itself in. America consumes nearly 21 million barrels of oil per day, and EXXON makes the highest profits from that consumption. After the wrath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the House of Representatives gave them even more when it passed the Gasoline for America's Security Act. This act eased environmental regulations and provided the wealthy oil industry with new incentives to increase refining capacity without doing anything to help consumers reduce demand. Now whose side do you think they are on?

Global oil demand is increasing as our population grows and countries like China are now getting off their bikes and into cars. This rising demand then means a decrease is supply and an increase in the very conditions that cause global warming. Without viable alternatives and countries who contribute to that global warming at the highest levels not doing anything to reduce oil demand, we will indeed reap the whirlwind. However, what does EXXON and conservative think tanks like CEI do? Do they embrace this attempt to bring truth to the consumers to be able to make an informed decision to seek out more sustainable choices for our future? No. They use it as an opportunity to once again serve their own political base in exchange for favors.

The energy policy conceived in secret by Dick Cheney and energy company executives does not solve or even begin to address this crisis. Their only answer is drilling our country dry in order to fill the bank accounts of those who attack anyone who dare seek to bring information about this issue to light. This is also a national security risk as it also effects our economy, our stability, and our environment, while they enjoy tax breaks and record profits at the expense of those who died in the wake of a natural disaster unlike any this country has seen before. And the Gulf Coast is still feeling the impact of those hurricanes with another hurricane season breathing down their neck. This kind of blatant immoral self interest by such companies at the expense of human life must no longer be rewarded or tolerated.

This press release is then to announce our wholehearted support for the movie, An Inconvenient Truth, the message Al Gore has worked so passionately and selflessly to bring to the world, and to call on CEI and especially EXXON to reevaluate their attempts to discredit an issue they have longed trailed way behind in regarding their own truth. The inconvenient truth they must face now, is that it is time for them to pay their dues for the environmental destruction their greed has wrecked upon our world. We can only hope they see the error of their ways and for once put morality ahead of profit. Our future depends on it.


Jan Moore
Chairperson,
Patriots for Al Gore
http://www.patriotsforgore.com

You can pledge to see this important movie here:
http://www.climatecrisis.net

[NMMNG]

15. I've avoided Exxon/Mobil for years

They're not gay friendly and they are deep in the Republicans' pockets. I don't, however, think boycotting them will do anything to gas prices.

[jwirr]

16. We do not have an Exxon in our area. Who are they affiliated with?

[otherlander]

17. I'm boycotting Exxon!!!

Of course, it helps that I have no car...:7

[RebelOne]

21. I only buy Citgo.

In fact, Citgo is the cheapest station in my area.