My response to Tuesday's "Gas Out"

[mistergoat]

At the end of a class today, a student stood up to remind everyone that May 15th was “the Gas Out.” A listserve that I’m on has been discussing it for the last several days. And then when I got home, I found an e-mail from someone whose name I didn’t even recognize urging me not to pump gas tomorrow

Comments

[dancingwolfgrrl]

Yeah, Snopes is all over that.

[mistergoat]

Oh yeah, I Snoped it too (is that a verb?). But I think that the phenomenon of this going around, whether we view it as a hoax or simply a very badly conceived attempt at plitical action, shows that there is real concern about the issue. And even if it's just a matter of people not wanting to pay so much (a legit concern for poor and even middle-class people who have to drive!), that concern offers an organizing opportunity. So my message was an attempt to channel that concern into a more productive venue--pushing for better fuel efficency standards, which would both lower costs and reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

And really, with that message floating around, probably reaching hundreds of thousands of people, it could have a real effect if even .5% of them called for better fuel efficiency, or didn't drive for the day, or made some other effective move toward reducing demand for gas.

[dancingwolfgrrl]

Fair enough :) I sent some petition!

[mistergoat]

Awesome! You rock.

[deangeloaw]

приветос всем! Я вернулся!