If we really did “get it together” as a society, would we really make any difference? For example: What if…
1: To protest “user fees” and other bank charges, we pick a day and on that day, we take all our money out of the banks and close our accounts.(At least for a day or two.)
2: To protest high gasoline prices, we pick a day (or two or three) and on that/those days we do not buy any gasoline at all.
3: To protest increased ticket prices, etc. at sporting events, we pick a day and, even if you do have tickets, do not attend the game. (You can watch it on TV, it’s just that no one ATTENDS the game.)
I admit I find this last one the most interesting because it can be done on a smaller scale. Imagine no one attending a Leafs/Rangers game. All those empty seats would be interesting to see on TV.
Considering the above, IF it was possible, would it make any difference?
I doubt this would happen. Most accounts have a daily withdrawal limit, and I doubt the central banks and ATMs would have enough cash for everyone to withdraw it. Besides, muggers would have a field day! And there’s no way I’d want to go setting up all my direct debits, standing orders and so on all over again; queues are bad enough as they are…
So, score one for apathy!
That was tried recently here in the UK (well, sort of). In protest at high fuel prices, an unofficial alliance of road hauliers and farmers blockaded the key petrol distribution depots in Britain for over a week. Panic buying set in, petrol stations dried up, and nothing much really seemed to happen to most people in urban situations. When the government started getting antsy and murmurs about the police and army being brought in to guarantee shipments, things started falling apart. Once the media started publicising the effects on the fire and ambulance services, as well as possible disruption to food supplies, the protestors crumbled (IMHO because they didn’t want to become the bad guys).
And the petrol companies? Didn’t do a thing, and have recently increased fuel costs again.
If everyone actually did this it would work all too well. Remember that banks only keep a fraction of their total assets on hand to cover withdrawals – most of it is tied up in loans. Everyone pulling their money out of the bank at once would cause a panic, shut down the bank, and, if done on a large enough scale, bring the entire economy to a screeching halt.
Personally, I think this proposed “cure” is worse that the disease … .
No effect at all. The only thing that will affect the oil companies is for you to reduce your total gasoline consumption. There’s more than enough slack in the gasoline distribution system to smooth over any spikes or dips that last for a few days.
Don’t know about this one. Pro sports teams do get a sizable chunk of their revenue from the broadcast of their games so if you’re boycotting them you should probably go all the way and not watch them either.
There’s not much point in not going if you already bought tickets – they’ve already got your money and showing empty stands is not that embarrassing.