Jersey girls don't pump gas

[pearlieq]

Churchill had it right: The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.

I'm completely appalled, and a little depressed, at the idea that the fate of our government is in the hands of people who will make political decisions based on whether they have to pump their own gas. But it sure does explain a lot.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Being a Jersey girl I do not pump my own gas either Of course when we are on a road trip I don't have a problem pumping my own gas but if someone else is gonna do it for me I'm not going to complain

That being said, there are about a million reasons I wouldn't vote for Corzine. We have some of the cheapest gas in the country and we have attendents who pump our gas for us (jobs which would be lost if we were to go self serve) why mess with it?? I pay $0.20+ more per gallon when I go to NY or PA and then I have to pump my own gas

 

[CapeMayMommy]

Churchill had it right: The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.

I'm completely appalled, and a little depressed, at the idea that the fate of our government is in the hands of people who will make political decisions based on whether they have to pump their own gas. But it sure does explain a lot.

Here is where you are wrong...

The New Jersey Gasoline Retailers were vocal opponents of lifting the ban. It seems that INSURANCE companies would take this as an opportunity to raise their premiums. They would be compelled to lay off gas attendents, even if they decided to keep full service.

INSURANCE COMPANIES would get richer

Low income people would lose their job.

The disabled advocates fear that full service would mostly disappear would be realized.

and the average New Jerseyan would not be paying less, and may even be paying more. Pay more, get less

It's a symbollic issue---but you missed that.

 

[happygirl]

I can't even image not pumping my own gas. I would think that would make gas higher there. Having to pay people to do that?

A side note. If I ever move to NJ apply to pump gas I would be great at it LOL

 

[akhenaten]

I am from NJ.... I know how to pump my own gas...
but I am very happy NOT to Have to do it!!!

I have always told my kids if it comes up for a vote... never vote to overturn that rule.... we have low gas prices and full service.... nothing wrong with that!!
( i voted for Mr.Corzine...but totally disagreed with his proposal to go to self serve... we have the best of both worlds good service and low prices...whats the advantage?)


Is a woman less of a feminist if she hires someone to do her wash or clean her house???
Just because I don't want to pump my own gas , does not mean I am being some kind of throwback to the 1950's LOL

 

[bballmom56]

It's not an entitlement issue. It's the law in this state. We enjoy this service. I fully realize that when we go out of NJ, we have to do self serve. Fine.

I am not against being outside in all kinds of weather or handling dirty or smelly things. Good heavens, I do it everyday. I manage a horse farm and clean stalls (and other dirty things), fix fences when necessary, paint barns, etc. So it sure is nice when I leave work and have to stop to get gas, that I don't have to get out in the cold again and deal with it. I could, but I'm glad I don't have to!

 

[lsyorke]

After reading this thread... do women in NJ really feel they have some entitlement over the rest of us women in the US? What happened to being self sufficient? I have no problem mowing the yard. It's great exercise. I take out the trash. I pump my own gas - shocker! I also raise my children without the help of a nanny or a babysitter, do the grocery shopping, and pay the bills. My hubby earns the money.

This isn't about world peace...it's about pumping gas for petes sake.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

If you are not from New Jersey or Oregon, do you wish you had this law or do you think that it's just nuts to not want to pump your own gas?

I wouldn't want this law and I think you're nuts!

Snooty and pretentious? Call it what you want, for me it's convenient and easy.

I don't really care if people prefer not to pump their own gas, that in and of itself isn't snooty and pretentious. Bragging about it as if it's beneath you is what sounds snooty and pretentious. Like a bumper sticker saying you don't pump gas. Really? To me, that would be like a bumper sticker saying "Florida girls don't wear snow boots". Kind of nice to live somewhere it doesn't snow, but such a non-issue that bragging about it makes no sense.

Thanks, but no thanks. I can put on some lipstick, text a few people, check directions, have a conversation, etc., while waiting for the tank to fill up. I don't want to pay attention to pumping gas.

We do all those things while we pump gas, too. Ten seconds to get out of the car, swipe the credit card and put the nozzle in the tank. Then either stand back or get back in the car and do whatever while it fills. Another ten seconds to get out again, remove the nozzle and take your receipt. No big deal.

I put gas-pumping on the same level as removing my items from my cart at the grocery store. I shop mostly at two stores. In one, I remove the items and put them on a little conveyor belt for the cashier to scan. At the other, I just push the cart up to the cashier and they take them out to scan on their own. It's a little nicer at the second store, but not a reason to avoid the first store. Sure, it'd be a little easier to just pull up to the gas station and hand a guy my credit card, but not so much that I'd let it affect my choice for governor.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

... just shaking my head in amazement as I wander through...

 

[just4today]

Those that have never pumped their own gas, have you never gone to another state? Ever in your life?

It would be too scary to go without a man to do all those icky things, like drive and pump gas.

I don't really care if people prefer not to pump their own gas, that in and of itself isn't snooty and pretentious. Bragging about it as if it's beneath you is what sounds snooty and pretentious. Like a bumper sticker saying you don't pump gas. Really? To me, that would be like a bumper sticker saying "Florida girls don't wear snow boots". Kind of nice to live somewhere it doesn't snow, but such a non-issue that bragging about it makes no sense.

I agree. I keep a pair of gloves in my car that I wear only when I pump gas. That way the nasty germs and smell don't ever come in contact with my dainty princessy hands.

 

[zippitydoo]

I used to live in NJ and it was great that you did not have to get out of car to pump case. But majority of the time the attendents were not that good. They would take forever just to get to your car to start pumping then they would take forever just to come back so you can pay and leave. On the other hand when we left NJ we had to learn how to pump gas. Too me it seems to be easier and quicker then waiting for someone to take care of you.

 

[surfergirl602]

I wouldn't want this law and I think you're nuts!

I don't really care if people prefer not to pump their own gas, that in and of itself isn't snooty and pretentious. Bragging about it as if it's beneath you is what sounds snooty and pretentious. Like a bumper sticker saying you don't pump gas. Really? To me, that would be like a bumper sticker saying "Florida girls don't wear snow boots". Kind of nice to live somewhere it doesn't snow, but such a non-issue that bragging about it makes no sense.

 

[waltsgirl]

People never fail to amaze me. Not voting for someone because you might have to pump your own gas???? Give me a break!

 

[Tiggeroo]

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

There are plenty of states with lower gas prices then NJ too-I think your legislators are feeding you a line about being the lowest.

We are the lowest price in the neighboring area. We are lower then Pa., NY, most of Maryland, only Del. comes close or perhaps has matching prices. At least in the areas I drive through.

 

[mjkacmom]

The thing is here in NJ we don't trust our elected officials, with good reason. If they say that if we go to pump your own and you will save money, it's not going to be true. Somehow the state will pocket the savings. It won't go to good programs or to reduce debt. They will just mismanage some more of our money. It would become like a tax only we get to pump out own gas. On top of it, all the entry level jobs pumping gas would be gone and those folks would be collecting government money. NJ has some of the cheapest gas in the state. Why mess with it. This suggestion brought to us by the same people who wanted to sell our state highways to companies who would triple the tolls. Our previous governor used state funds to bring his illegal immigrant boyfriend into the country and give him a high paying state job he wasn't qualified for and lacked the security clearance for. He never paid any of that money back.

Yep - totally agree. My mom works as a legislative aide to an assemblyman in our county. The county executive's son works in her office fulltime - or lets just say that's what is on the books, since he has another fulltime job. He works in the office maybe 2 hours a week, fulltime pay and benefits!

With all of the corruption, the insane property taxes, the high COL, the budget cuts to our schools, it seems like having our gas pumped is one of the only perks living here!

 

[Tiggeroo]

I think many of you miss the humor of the OP's post. It's really a Jersey thing. It's kind of a running joke. We don't really make decisions based on this one thing. But if you don't like the candidate already this would be just more point against him. We didn't really vote out a sitting governor because he taxed tp. But it didn't make any of us like him any more.

 

[7165red]

I lived in NJ for many years and loved the fact that I didn't have to pump gas. When I moved to NY state I hated to have to pump my own gas. I was really afraid of it and hated it during the winter. I have to say up to this day I still hate it.

 

[LisaNJ25]

People never fail to amaze me. Not voting for someone because you might have to pump your own gas???? Give me a break!

There were many more reasons not to re-elect him. I had no idea about the gas issue and I didn't vote for him.'


I don't think any of use from Jersey think its "beneath us" to pump gas, but why is it that we have lower gas prices and get full service? I do not want to give up full service and than have to pay higher gas prices. Makes no sense

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I think feminism just took a huge step backwards in this thread. It's fine if you don't want to pump your own gas (although I agree it does sound stuck up), but not wanting to just because you are a woman? Women's rights groups getting up in arms about this? Give me a break.

I am a girly girl. I love wearing skirts, even in the winter when it's cold. I've never had a problem pumping my own gas. Yeah, it's not always pleasant. But good grief! Gas splashing on you? No time to text or put on make up? The only way gas is splashing on you is if you are being a total bonehead at the pump. You don't pull the handle until the nozzle is in your tank, and you don't pull it out while the gas is going in .That is common sense. All pumps (at least at self serve stations) have sensors that stop the flow of gas once your tank is full. I have never once gotten gas on me.

At self serve stations, there is a thing you can use on the gas pump that allows it to still pump even if you are not holding it. I always check my oil, throw away trash, or in the cold duck into the car while my gas is going. If your precious text message is that important, you can do it then.

Not pumping gas seems to have some advantages, mostly for the infirm. And of course, it does create jobs. That would be my contention if I lived in that state, the loss of jobs. Not that women are too fragile creatures to pump their own gas.

Out of curiosity, why is this even a law in those two states?

 

[CathrynRose]

If you are not from New Jersey or Oregon, do you wish you had this law or do you think that it's just nuts to not want to pump your own gas?

I'm jealous that you guys still had that!! We lost our gas pumpers years and years and years ago.

I would love for them to bring it back. I'd pay extra.

I have an on-going joke with a co-worker from like 5 years ago. We still go back and forth on Facebook how far we've gotten after the "LOW FUEL" light goes on. Trying to beat each others miles, we've gone.

Just Tuesday morning, I got a wall post from him saying his light came on - and he was gonna try and make it until Saturday, since he'd be staying in Thursday and Friday. Hahaha!

I hate stopping for gas. Hate it.