Boycotting gas stations May 15, 2007 WON'T affect THE OIL COMPANIES in the least

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I have seen several discussions started on this subject and expect to see many more between now and the 15th and thought I would be able to better shed some light here rather than responding to all the individual discussions. I started working at a gas station back in 1989 until 2001 that was owned and operated by my in-laws. I'm going to attempt to explain why picking a day not to buy gas will have NO EFFECT on the big oil companies. I'm also going to attempt to explain that the owner-operated gas stations AREN'T getting RICH selling gas. If a gas station pumps 10,000 gallons of fuel a day at approximately a .10 per gallon profit they have only made $,000 for the day. This money has to pay for the employees wages salaries and benefits, the electricity, and the many types of insurance that are required for operating a business. There are many other expenses that most people don't even think about in running a business like water, sewer and garbage. There are maintenance costs and landscaping, and property taxes and the list is practically endless. Yes, $1,000 sounds like a lot, but I can assure you that it's nothing compared to the expenses involved. Gasoline profits are exhausted on day to day operations. Have you noticed that owner-operated gas stations now rely on other more profitable avenues? There larger convenience stores, car washes, repair shops, propane sales, truck rentals and even fast food establishments attached. All of the stories about boycotting in the past that state that they have had an affect are untrue. Here are a couple of links which provide more detailed information: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp I can assure you that no time in the late 90's did gas drop overnight by .30 or that stations noticed any kind of change in the purchase of fuel. Certainly NOT the oil companies that we would be trying to negatively impact. "By definition, a boycott involves the doing without of something, with the renunciation of the boycotted product held up as tangible proof to those who supply the commodity that consumers are prepared to do without it unless changes are made." (This was taken from the 1st snopes link provided above.) The only way to have an effect on the big oil companies is to change your driving habits. You need to carpool and/or use public transportation, and for many these aren't options. There is a big difference between rescheduling your activity versus eliminating the activity altogether. Your thoughts on this?