This gas price problem can be fixed very easily. Ask the oil companies to stop trying to maximize their profits. Tell them the following:
1- People in the US are basically forced to consume energy through cars, air conditioning, cooking
2- Because of that, we really dont have much choice but paying for it
3- Thus, raising their prices is just like raising taxes
4- They are a business, not a government
5- They should treat the citizens the way we want our government to treat citizens and STOP RAISING TAXES (in this case, their prices)
Will the private sector gas companies abide by our requests and run their business like a government by not raising taxes (prices)?
How old are you?
That's exactly what Jimmy Carter did, toll the companies to stop maximizing their profits and instituted price controls. That's how we ended up with strict rationing. Most gas stations had no gas at all.