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# ✆ I plan to drive slower to save on gas and to do less driving, walk more and take the bus more
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/taking-a-pass-on-the-gas-this-past-week-q-line-asked-to-what-lengths-will-you-go-to-save-money-when-filling-up-your-tanks-long-lines-other-neighborhoo/
- Published: 2006-04-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:40:39.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import

✆ “I plan to drive slower to save on gas and to do less driving, walk more and take the bus more often. Also, I’m joining the national boycott, which is boycotting Exxon, until the price of gas goes down, and then boycott the next company on the boycott list, until their prices go down. And, of course, we all know this is one big contrived rip off.” ✆ “I think that the oil companies continuing to gouge the American people with these outrageous gas prices while showing unprecedented and huge profits is totally unconscionable. During World War II, it would have been called profiteering, but since the administration is in bed with the oil companies, this is what we have, so there it is.” ✆ “What to do is to drive less, walk more and use the bicycle more and laugh at all the idiots with their gas-guzzling SUVs. They are the ones who deserve to pay the high prices anyway. The best thing we can do is hope someone gets rid of Bush and Cheney and puts the oil companies under government control. It may cost money, but at least the profits would be going to the government and not the greedy corporations, because they don’t deserve it.” ✆ “Residing and working in Santa Monica, I found it easy to deal with the high gas prices. When prices went up past the $2 a gallon, that was the last time I filled my gas tank. Now I walk everywhere, up to eight miles a day, and when needed, I use pubic transportation.” ✆ “I have prudently budgeted my consumption of gasoline, since gasoline prices started its upward climb from 29 cents a gallon. I have eliminated all of my luxury driving and have refined the driving that I consider to be essential by combining as many destinations as possible on one trip. Also, I’m walking to nearby destinations or riding my bicycle. I also considered manufacturers’ product coupons to be manna from heaven for those products I would normally purchase. The money I normally save on coupons goes toward the purchase of fuel. To quote Benjamin Franklin, ‘A penny saved is a penny earned.’ Still, the hardest entities hit are the non-essential businesses that the consumer will shy away from due to the obscene price of gasoline, taking away the consumers’ play money. It should also be noted that California has the highest price of gasoline, as much as 50 cents a gallon higher than other states. I also suspect that Californians have more need for automobile usage than other states. I sense the aroma of extortion. If a change for the better does not take place in the lowering of gasoline prices, then only those drivers who can afford to drive and those who are forced to drive, will be behind the wheel. E-mail, write or call those politicians in your area who are elected to let them know they are on thin ice in getting your vote the next time, if the gouging of the gasoline consumer is not stopped.” ✆ “I think that people should be environmentally friendly, or just use diesel powered cars. I’m a disabled person and I can tell you, these streets need to be fixed up, so put the money where it really needs to be.” ✆ “I gifted my car to charity in 2000 and I’ve been happy about that decision ever since. The Big Blue Bus is clean, safe, basically on time and a friendly environmental choice which I made consciously. It saves a ton of money and makes me feel good about my decision and I’m not feeling the brunt of this gas problem at all. I encourage everyone to donate their car to charity and get on the bus. I walk everywhere and I’ve had no problems purchasing everything I need. Walking and busing, try it you’ll like it and you’ll lose weight too.” ✆ “Please tell me where does the auto club AAA come up with their estimate on prices of 31 cents higher now than at the same time just one year ago? I paid $2.27 per gallon for the middle-grade gasoline at Chevron in the valley which was 30 cents less than in Santa Monica on New Year’s Eve four months ago. Last week, I paid $3.27, $1 more, for the same middle-grade gasoline at Chevron in Santa Monica. And it is even higher this week. I only use my car when there is no alternative, when it is necessary to be at a specific location at a specific time.” ✆ “It’s a lesson in futility, knowing that the politicians are gloating with all the extra revenue from the taxes on the gasoline prices going higher.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 29, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)