Someone recently told me he plans to boycott BP and I asked what message he thinks it will send to one of the world's largest companies.  "Well, it'll tell them I don't approve of their response to the oil spill."  

Really?  Well, just in case you don't know, BP doesn't own the stations in your community.  They are franchises owned by individuals, maybe one of your neighbors, who makes a few cents on every gallon and sells lottery tickets and convenient store items to supplement the income from the gasoline sales. 

So if you want to send a message, write to your elected officials, volunteer at www.lagulfresponse.org or take a bus to work (of course you don't know if the bus company uses BP products) but boycotting a local operation where a clerk depends on his $8 an hour is pointless.   Tony Hayward et al will still make millions in income with stock options.  These local franchisees are under contract.