Can we as people of this country control some of the inflation on gas prices?

Question

If we as "the people" were to start a rally for 1 week and not buy gas, would we hurt ourselves? I believe the goverment has alot to do with the rise in gas prices and the prediction of the future gas prices. Why are we not using the reserved fuel (that we hear about) to help lower the cost at the pumps! I'm in the resoration business and just had to relinguish a new full sized pick up truck, now into a 10year old small pick up. I put approx 68,000 miles a year just for work @ 10 miles per gallon, and add that up with the prices of gas today. My truck I just picked up, granted small, but now get 22 miles to gallon, but why should we have to put ourselves in a predictament like this just to try and survive. With gas prices on the rise and no lower prices in sight, do we think that our economy will be able to get back on our feet. Our American dollar is not as strong as it has been and from the news I assum we will be loosing the streghth behind our dollar for sometime to come.

Answer 1

No...no one cares what we think or do. The goverment is going to do what they want anyway.

Answer 2

Yes do not let banks have extra cash to play the Oil Markets.Keep min. in checking,savings.Pay debts close to due date.

Its investors driving up the Oil.Banks are investing billions in stocks.

Answer 3

You could eliminate all local taxes on gasoline.  Also, time traffic lights to prevent as much unnecessary stopping as possible so drivers get the most out of their gas.  Encourage everyone to check their tire pressure and other maintenance point that directly affect gas mileage.  

The demand is so strong for gas that no one has any reason whatsoever to lower the price, but we can try to use it better.

Answer 4

Yes we can. If we ALL banded together and did exactly what you did (cut fiel consumption in half) the price of fuel would drop. But, it would take full cooperation. The problem is, when fuel prices drop 20 or 30%, people start thinking about buying a gashog AGAIN. If we push for rationing, it would also bring prices down and force moving to more fuel efficient cars. I downgraded to a 4 cylinder Ranger pickup and my car will soon be a 2 cylinder cycle car (80 mpg?)

Answer 5

First of all let me compliment you on posing one of the most interesting questions I have ever read here in Y! answers.

   In my opinion, we the people of this country, as a whole, can have a significant effect on the price of petroleum in this country. I remember the gas "shortage" of the mid to late 70's. There wasn't a shortage of gas... just a shortage of cheap gas. We turned to the imports of the day that got fantastic M.P.G. even for todays standards. We bought those imported cars and started useing less gas as a whole over the course of the "shortage".  

    The one thing we showed the oil producing nations of the world during the 70's was that we Americans love our cars and will pay any price for gas to keep driving them. The outrageous prices of gas these days are due to so many different factors that its hard to place the blame in one spot. Pointing fingers rarely ever does any good and ultimately fault and blame have no meaning.  You asked why we don't use the reserves that are in stock. Well the reserves, as I understand it, are not that plentiful and would be consumed in a matter of days. I also understand that the reserves are there for emergency situations. As long as we have NASCAR and NHRA and other motor sports, then the need for releasing the reserves seems not so pertinent. I dont think that the reserves are for regulating the price of oil anyway. But to each his own.

   If we buy less and use what we buy sparingly then the effects of that will be felt by the oil producing countries and the price will eventually fall.

Answer 6

With the boom of China, Russia, and India I don't think a one week dropoff by the U.S. would have much if any effect.  The United states is becoming weak, having a huge inflation rate over the past 5 years, an all time low for the dollar (even Canadian money is worth more than the dollar now), and a very shaky economic outlook now and down the road.  I think the United States people are going to have to get used to consuming much less than what they are used to.

Answer 7

They only way to lower the price of gas is to stop using it.

We ( you and me) have to find a way to stop using it.

Our Government cant do much. Opec has total control over the price of oil. We get most of our oil from the middle east (opec). The price of gas is based on supply and demand. We can't force another country to produce more oil. If opec decieded to cut production even further and push the price of gas to $10 or $12 a gallon or more. It would shut this country down.

Again, We have to find a way to do without their oil!

Answer 8

Nothing ventured nothing gained,that would be a great idea but it would be hard to get the coperation of thousands of people

I have a Ford F250,crew cab,8 ft bed a V-10 engine with a six speed standard transmission i even have a big ole Boss Snow Plow,i love the truck.

Who would have ever throught we would see the day of $4.00 a gallon for gas,i get between 8 and 10 miles to the gallon.

I have a 32 gallon gas tank and when i fill the tank the price is unreal ( $115.00 ). I keep wandering why are we protecting those oil fields and spending millions of dollars rebuilding Iraq after we kicked their @ss. Where are the spoils of war? We sure had the alltime worst leader these past 8 years.I'm sure glad i did'nt vote for him.

I dont see any help in sight even rice is selling for a thousand dollars a ton.

Good luck to you