When energy (gas) prices were low, Americans were buying hug gas-guzzling environment-polluting monster SUVs, urban pickups, and the like.

Higher gas prices are a good signal, hopefully the market will respond with reduced usage and more efficiency. In fact, historically US gas prices have been among the lowest in the world (with the exception of a few oil producing nations which subsidise their gas prices to below cost).

This complaint feels like expectation of privilege... wah you took our unnaturally cheap gas away from us wah.