While I agree in theory that gas prices should be higher, there aren’t really any alternatives in the US. Aside from a select few densely populated urban areas, people need cars to go about their daily lives. Much of this is indeed due to car and oil company (and maybe even tire company) lobbying and lawmaking forcing a car-centric lifestyle on the country, but regardless it will take a very long time for the US to move away from cars as the mode of transport.
High gas prices are even a problem in parts of Europe, even when most cities are livable without a car. There was a huge protest movement triggered in France a few years ago (Gilles Jaunes - Yellow Vests) when the metropolitan political establishment in walkable and well served with public transportation Paris decided to raise national gasoline taxes. The rural citizens, especially those working in agriculture, were furious. Their livelihoods were threatened.
While I agree in theory that gas prices should be higher, there aren’t really any alternatives in the US. Aside from a select few densely populated urban areas, people need cars to go about their daily lives. Much of this is indeed due to car and oil company (and maybe even tire company) lobbying and lawmaking forcing a car-centric lifestyle on the country, but regardless it will take a very long time for the US to move away from cars as the mode of transport.
High gas prices are even a problem in parts of Europe, even when most cities are livable without a car. There was a huge protest movement triggered in France a few years ago (Gilles Jaunes - Yellow Vests) when the metropolitan political establishment in walkable and well served with public transportation Paris decided to raise national gasoline taxes. The rural citizens, especially those working in agriculture, were furious. Their livelihoods were threatened.