The power of the people can lower petrol prices.

Petrol prices are readily increasing... Doubled from 10 years ago? And with an inflation rate of about 3% a year? Do we drivers and vehicle owners want to continue to be held at ransom? Here in Singapore, many are resorting or have resorted to endure excruciating traffic congestions, in an attempt to cross the causeway for cheaper petrol. Some are driving without air-conditioning.

We the drivers and vehicle owners are the consumers, hence we are THE MARKET. Do not continue to allow these huge multinational corporations to earn their big bucks at our expense... People, do not continue to allow yourselves to be held at ransom. We being THE Market, being
THE Consumer, do you all understand the power that you posses? Do you fully understand or even begin to grasp the capacity of this power. The power of the united consumer can bring any multinational corporation down to its knees and even grab it by the balls. The key here, my fellow consumers and victims, is unity.

Competition was supposed to create better prices, better services, better value for a certain industry or sector on an industry. We as the consumer, are not taking full advantage of this gift of competing companies. Companies react to market conditions, now we, being the market, create the conditions of our choosing.

We are free to protest non violently, and we all should... start this protest... History has shown that the power of the united consumer can prevail.

An example, the British 1765 Stamp act. The British government wanted to raise funds, through taxation on all printed paper that was used in the colonies in north America. All paper, documents, newspaper, even playing cards. All paper was to carry a tax stamp. The colonies responded with a general boycott of all British imports and merchandise from the UK. Benjamin Franklin was summoned to the UK, and the British government demanded that the colonists paid their taxes. B. Franklin then told the Brits not the take the spending power of the colonies for granted. Pressure from British manufacturers and merchants over the boycott then caused the Stamp Act to be repealed in spring 1766.

Another Example, 1767 Townshend Act was passed by the British. This law placed a tax on various daily necessities like, lead, paper, paint, glass and tea in the north American colonists. The tax was on the imports of such merchandise. The colonists then responded again with a boycott. Economic pressure from the boycott caused several entities in Britain to press for repeal. The act was eventually repealed except for tea.

It doesn't end here, the tax on tea was lifted on the East India Company to protect its interests, and to allow it to sell tea in the colonies tax free. The colonies then boycotted all tea from the East India Company. Ships carrying East India Company Tea were turned back at the north American ports. With a drop in tea exports for East India Company, from over 300000 pounds, to about 500 pounds, the company incurred huge debts.

Search "Boston Tea Party" for more info on the above, a link on the right has some if you are interested. But how does all of the above relate to the petrol consumers here in Singapore?

Here's how it'll work.
Firstly, we break the major players into 2 groups. Group 1 - Shell, Caltex Group 2 - Mobil, SPC.

Secondly, pump only from group 1, boycott group 2. do this for at least 1 fiscal quarter. Say till 31 December 2006. Group 2 will probably won't be able to handle the drop in sales. What we are trying to accomplish here, is a drastic drop in sales for one of the groups. In this case, group 2. Which will drive the CEOs in group 2 to do something, like lower their pump prices. Once they lower their pump prices, we all shift to group 2, and boycott group 1 for another 3 to 6 months. Now until group 1 lowers their price, then we shift to group 1 and boycott group 2, rinse an repeat.

Thirdly, we need to spread this message to as many of your driver/vehicle owner friends/relatives as possible, and as fast as possible. For now pump only Shell and Caltex until 31st December 2006, or until Mobil and SPC drop their pump prices by a further 10%.(b4 discount).

This plan will work, as long as one condition is fulfilled, which is that we are united with a single goal. As long as we are united, this will work. Unity is strength, my fellow Singaporeans. Unite, and do not be divided, hence be conquered. It WILL work, as long as we are united.