On Mon, 23 Apr 2001 16:01:22 -0500, JSG <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Tom Emerson wrote:
>>
>> I received an e-mail from a friend suggesting [a targeted boycott]
>
><snip>
>
>http://www.snopes2.com/inboxer/petition/gasout.htm

thanks for the "urban legend" reference -- I should have thought to check
into it first.  Admittedly, I did think it to be a bit suspect (I
considered the "source" and the fact that he has sent "marginal" items
before) and as I mentioned, I didn't think it would be beyond the devious
tactics employed by "one of the other" companies [that would "know" they
could easily raise prices because of an artificially induced demand
for "their" gasoline]

Some of the points in the Snopes article are suspect as well, but I'm not
in a position to argue them either way [just like a devious competitor
might start such a rumor, I wouldn't put it past the "targeted" company to
convince the folks at snopes to post a misleading rebuttle...]

As an awareness item, however, I think it a worthwhile message -- people
should consider alternatives [in fact, in ADDITION to getting a more-fuel-
efficient car, I'm forming a carpool with a coworker who lives out my way]
since that would be the only truly EFFECTIVE way to reduce consumption.  My
fuel consumption is 12 gallons a week in my current car [$20+/tank]  I
expect that 12 gallons in the Prius would last me 14-18 days or more
considering the way I drive.  I don't know the sales projections for
the "hybrid" cars as a whole, but I think California has mandated sales of
at least 50,000 this year [warning: THAT is a totally unsupported rumor,
but one I'd like to believe... :)] 50,000 people buying half as much gas as
usual should make a statistical bump -- after 4 years when 200,000+ are on
the road that "bump" should be large enough to trip over ;)

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