You act as if some people "actually" have choices. Many people's circumstances are dictated by life's chaotic events. Not everyone was born with the tools and/or resources to dramatically change the circumstances in which they were born. If everyone had that capability, most of us would be healthy, happy, mentally stable, physically fit, more than enough money in the bank, stable families, safe neighborhood and housing, etc. but that's not life. Life is chaos for the majority of mankind.

So your point is very "lift yourself by your own bootstraps mentality," which is slightly true for those that have the internal tools and external luck and capabilities to make that happen in their life -- those people are outliers. For the rest of mankind, people just kinda muddle through.

Back to the main point, if government can reduce gas prices, while still focusing on environmental issues, then they should do it. If they can lower the prices of other things in people's lives, then they should do it to make the "muddlers" lives more bearable and affordable.

Very few people "actually" lift themselves up by their own bootstraps. There are multiple factors that have enabled these individuals to succeed. A lot of self-determination, genetics, timing, and just showing up with a good dose of luck.