well, there are a lot of reasons why gas prices stay high.
1. Gas prices are not determined cost of oil, but are determined by future projected cost, and future projected supply and demand. There is only a limited amount of oil on the planet. Eventually we will run out whether we get our heads around using something other than gasoline or not.
2. Increased demand. We are walking less, and using more gas. This really isn't making a point against people that are overweight, because obviously I'm there myself, but it is a fact. We are fatter and less active now than any of our ancestors.
Not just using more gas because we driving more, but also because we are bigger. It takes more effort for the car to pull around 250 lbs than for 150 lbs (for example - please take no offence to this, but it is an example, and not intended as an insult in any way, and really can't be avoided) There is an article on this on msn actually (
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15415446/). I know people who won't/can't walk 6-8 blocks to the grocery store to pick up a few things, and that was extremely uncommon, and i'd go so far as to say almost unheard of 20-50 yrs ago.
So why are gas prices still up? quite simply, more demand, same supply.