NO TIGER IN MY TANK

“...A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:6)

That verse from the Book of Revelation describes a time during the coming future Tribulation period in which inflation will be absolutely out of control, necessities will cost huge sums of money (the old English “penny” represents the Biblical denarius or one day’s wages), and ultimately the economy will collapse.  It seemed to me to be an appropriate verse for this topic.

Back in the 1960s, Exxon (well, then it was called “Esso”) used to advertise, “Put a Tiger in Your Tank!”.  I won’t be doing that for quite awhile.  Several years ago, Exxon merged with Mobil to form Exxon-Mobil, the world’s biggest oil company.  Exxon-Mobil has had RECORD-BREAKING profits over the past year.  Most of you know that Mr. Raymond, the C.E.O. of Exxon-Mobil received an obscenely high compensation and retirement package.  An e-mail has been circulating, calling for American consumers to boycott Exxon-Mobil.  A few days ago, I heard on the radio that one Texas County has officially called for a boycott against Exxon-Mobil.  If virtually NOBODY bought Exxon or Mobil gasoline or oil, they would be FORCED to drop their price and ultimately all other gasoline suppliers would have to drop their prices.  Someone phoned in a question to one of those “financial experts” on the radio asking if the premise of that e-mail is REALLY valid- if such a boycott of Exxon-Mobil would REALLY work.  (This is not an urban legend, I HEARD the radio program myself!)  The expert was very skeptical that the American public would really band together and boycott Exxon-Mobil, but he said that IF the American public really did that, he believed such a boycott WOULD work.

For those of you in the Framingham, MA area, you know there is an Exxon station almost right around the corner from where I live.  Each Tuesday, the station lowers its prices to below the usual retail prices and cars FLOOD into the station.  People should NOT do that!  On Wednesdays, the price goes back up.  The local station and Exxon are doing a spectacular business there.  They are learning NOTHING!  They are paying no price for their greed.  I shake my head when I drive by (or walk by) that station on Tuesdays.  I’m serious.  I’m not buying Exxon or Mobil gas in 2006 UNLESS their price drops below $2 a gallon, and even then, I may wait for $1.89.

To be blunt:  PLEASE SMARTEN UP!  DON’T BUY EXXON OR MOBIL GAS OR OIL THIS YEAR UNLESS THE PRICES GO WAY DOWN.

That’s it.  See you at the Shell station, or the Hess station, or the local independent station...