Truckers need our help !

This idea, which has been circulated on the net for years, will not work. You need to understand that prices for fungible commodities like gasoline are not just pulled out of a hat. They are a function of international supply and demand. (And taxes and monetary policy).

Let's just suppose that you could get a huge percentage of people to boycott one oil company - say Citgo. Citgo would suddenly have a surplus of gasoline. They would probably first lower their prices. Additionally, the higher demand at the other oil companies (from former Citgo customers) would cause their price to go up. The lower prices at Citgo combined with the higer prices at the other companies would probably end your boycott right there because people would abandon the cause in order to get the cheap gas. And then the Citgo price would go back up.

But let's assume that the price differential didn't bust your boycott. Assume people were willing to pay higher prices just to hurt Citgo. What would Citgo do? They would turn around and sell their gas to the other oil companies who would be trying to meet the increased demand. And because the other oil companies would have raised thier prices in response to the increased demand, they would be able to pay Citgo more than usual. So Citgo would not lose much in the bargain. Eventually, prices would stabilize at the former levels and Citgo would have been forced out of gasoline retail and into a role as a refiner and distributor. Citgo would still be in business making a nice profit, but would have to close all of its retail outlets putting lots of middle-class guys out on the street. And gas prices would be the same once the market adjusted to the loss of one retailer.

IF you could get the whole country to permanently reduce its oil consumption, you might lower oil prices a little compared to what they would have been otherwise. But remember that any significant reduction in price due to reduced demand in the US is going to increase demand in the rest of the world.

Prices in fungible commodities traded in international markets cannot be manipulated so easily by consumers. Even well-organized cartels like OPEC that control a significant portion of the supply are limited in their ability to control the price. If they raise prices too much, the members of the cartel cheat. Markets are very powerful and a market as big as the international oil market is way beyond the ability of any group of American consumers to push around.

They want to talk to RP but haven't had any success with HQ... I suggested the contact his office in DC

every single one of them should have Ron Paul Large on their trucks!

It's really obvious, but I hadn't realized that it is exactly what those truckers should be doing.

You know that's right!! :D

they are shutting down for the day...not working...not buying gas....not goods will be delivered.....

I assume they want us to not buy gas... maybe strike, I dunno how far they want us non truck drivers to go....

I think they should be protesting the gas tax + the inflation tax.

Also, forget the "windfall profits" tax proposed by Hillary. The Bush Administration has recently given oil companies big tax breaks. In a free market, giving any company special tax breaks or special tax penalties is absurd.

If the government had not subsidized oil companies through Middle Eastern wars, then solar power, wind power, etc. would have been profitable years ago.

Free markets will negate the majority of price and supply problems.

Ron Paul Explorer: The All Paul Search Engine

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Truckers And Citizens United
"Support Shut-Down"
Round Two

May 1, 2008
8am - 5pm (pacific)

***********************************
Professional drivers are asking American Citizens
to participate with us in this second "National Shut-Down"

This is an issue effecting all of us and we MUST take a stand NOW.
Our government IS a major contributing factor in the outrageous price
of fuel, and the struggle American citizens are experiencing making ends meet.
We must take this action to get their attention. All other avenues has only fallen
on deaf ears - our government is ignoring the will, and needs, of the American people.

***********************************
ALL DRIVERS
COMPANY & O/O SHOULD PARTICIPATE

ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS
SHOULD PARTICIPATE

LETS TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!!

STAND UP, SPEAK OUT OR ACCEPT WHAT COMES!!!

www.theamericandriver.com
email:
TruckersAndCitizensUnited@theamericandriver.com
Truckers2Unite@yahoo.com