I got to thinking

that if Jesus came back this tomorrow and started doing whatever it is that he needs to do during his second coming, that the vast majority of the people today would be just like the vast majority during his first go round in that we would simply not understand what he was up to.

The things that hold his attention, the places he goes, the people he talks with and the stuff he does would completely confuse us. Nearly every person's understanding of him would probably be utterly shattered.

Today I received the following email:

[Hundreds of Email addresses in the header had to be edited out because people don't listen to me]

Subject: DON'T PUMP YOUR GAS ON MAY 15TH 2007

MARK YOUR CALENDERS AND DON'T PUMP YOUR GAS ON MAY 15TH 2007

Don't pump gas on May 15th
In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all AMERICANS are asked not to go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places.

If all Americans did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,200,000,000.00 (that's BILLION) out of the oil companys [sic] pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt, [sic] don't you want cheap gas?)
Email to all of your contacts!!

This notion is, of course, ludicrous. I don't usually reply to this sort of thing, but this time did:

Subject: Re: DON'T PUMP YOUR GAS ON MAY 15TH 2007

This sort of action, while well intentioned, will never work. Here's why:

First of all, OPEC does not make any money off what you spend at the pump. OPEC's profit happens when they export crude oil from one of their member countries to the US. This is bought by a refinery, who processes it into various petroleum products including kerosene, motor oil, diesel and regular gasoline. These are then sold to wholesalers who sell them to individual retailers. So, by the time you're swiping your card at the pump, the product is well removed from OPEC's revenue streams, and not buying on any given day will not affect them at all.

Second, gasoline is only the tip of petroleum iceberg. Take a look around where you're sitting and you'll see dozens, maybe hundreds of petroleum based products at your desk. If you were to go through your entire house, it would take hours to find the literally thousands of petroleum based products we use every day. Everything that is plastic, rubber or made of synthetic fibers like nylon, rayon or polyester has petroleum in it. I'll bet nearly every piece of clothing you're wearing right now is either a cotton blend or has an elastic band in it that is petroleum based. Many types of cleaners and detergents, including shampoo, laundry soap and dish detergent have petroleum products in them. Many paints and dyes have petroleum derivatives in them, as do many medicines such as antihistamines and aspirin. Many types of makeup, especially lipsticks and lip balms have petrochemicals in them as well. Oil derivatives are everywhere. You simply would not be able to live life as you are accustomed to without them. For a fun experiment, see how long you can go without touching or using something plastic. If your fingers did not immediately leave the keyboard and mouse, you've already failed.

The next two points are the most important.

Third: a quick lesson in economics. Basic economic theory says that supply, demand and price are all related. If demand increases while supply stays the same, prices will rise. If demand falls while supply remains the same prices will fall. This is known as flexible demand and what this gas boycott is hoping to accomplish. The demand for gasoline, however, is what's known to economists as inflexible. This means that demand does not fluctuate much with changes in price or supply because gas is a necessity for which there is no readily available substitute. Lots of things have inflexible demand: milk for instance. As the price of milk has risen, people have not started drinking less. Nor do they drink more when milk is cheap. Gas is the same way. I'm only 24 and I can clearly remember buying gas for .99 a gallon back in high school. The price of gas has basically tripled in the last 10 years or so, but it hasn't changed my (or anyone else I know, for that matter) driving habits at all. Regardless of the price of gas, I still need to do about the same amount of driving from week to week, year to year. Because of this fact, everybody who doesn't buy gas on the 15th, is going to on the 14th, or the 16th or some time the next week. Even if nobody on the planet bought a drop of gas for 24 hours, the very next day it would be back to business as usual. This boycott has exactly zero potential to move the price of gas one penny.

Finally, and this is closely related to my previous point, no one is changing their habits because of this boycott. Let's pretend you commit to this one day boycott. You wake up on Tuesday the 15th and when you get about halfway to work (or school, or whatever) notice that your tank is almost empty; you're not sure you have enough gas to make it home. Will you honestly allow your commitment to this silly exercise risk stranding your car on the freeway? No, you're going to pull over and fill up (at least a little) as soon as you can. If you are all truly interested in lowering the price of gas, you will have to take much more drastic action. Sell your gas guzzler and buy a hybrid, or better yet, a fully electric car (they do exist) or at least the most fuel efficient car you can afford. Ride your bike every to work every day, not just when it's nice outside. Buy fewer petrochemical products (good luck with that). Buy a car that runs on biodiesel. Simply make a pledge to drive less, consistently, year in and year out. Carpool constantly. If enough people take steps like these, then we stand a real chance of bringing the price of gas down, mostly because we won't be using as much of it. Thinking this one day boycott will accomplish anything is pure fantasy. Boycotts need to be sustained over a long period time to be effective. If change is what you're after, it can happen, but will take more effort and sacrifice than a single day.

Send this to everyone who sent you the original boycott email.

I welcome comments, discussion and rebuttals on my blog
naznarreb.blogspot.com

To this I would like to add Snopes' excellent page on the subject. I did not think to check them out before sending off my reply. Similar hoaxes here.