The correct level for gas right now, considering supply and demand factors is around $50 a barrel, which will translate into gas slightly right at about $2.00.
Regardless of your opinion of the 'correct' price for gas, Spade, the point is that the American working class is being priced out of its accustomed lifestyle of endless driving by two things - 1) declining wages and 2) gas prices steadily increasing in the long term.
The fact that this lifestyle is a misery in and of itself is irrelevant, the politically relevant point is desperation. Admittedly there is less desperation at $2.25/gallon than at $3.00 per gallon, but there is still a lot more than there was at $1.25/gallon. Particularly when wages have not gone up in real terms in decades, while prices for housing and other necessities are increasing rapidly.