Please, stop giving us your money

I just saw an entire DC Metro bus painted from front to back with a Chevron ad that read something like:

I will not use my car.
Will you join us?
Human Energy

This campaign is the first time I can recall seeing a company spend money in an attempt to lower demand for its own product. Is this a bizarre new phenomenon, or have we reached a point where companies stand to gain more by gaming the political process (whether for bailouts, new drilling rights, wind power subsidies or whatnot) than undertaking new business ventures?

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.