Government run major industries is the most efficient, effective and logical way to run a nation. This way regulation, control and all knowledge pertaining to the production of the product/resource is available.
In a capitalist system in our modern world, major industires such as oil, electricity, water, transportation, etc. Should not be in the hands of private owners, this leads to corruption and general mismanagement, because without the watchful eyes of commitees and boards, people don't run businesses as they should.
Sooner or later even the United Stations will discover that they're going to have to go down that path, and once that happens you'll find your gas prices, even in for the absurd measurement of 'gallons' will drop drasticly as control over the market and production takes hold.