The world is aflame with existential concern over the nominal increase in gasoline prices. While I am not indifferent to inflation and the rising costs of all items and services around the globe, some expenses are necessary. This temporary pinch at the pump is one such necessity.

For those struggling to comprehend this increase in their budgets, I suggest a reframing to help them accept and embrace this temporary disruption. Consider viewing the rise in gasoline prices as a “humanity tax.”

Gasoline prices incorporate a combination of federal, state, and sometimes local taxes, averaging over 50 cents per gallon in the United States. These figures are often higher in Canada and various European countries. The taxes that contribute to this include an 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal excise tax, state excise taxes, environmental fees, and carbon taxes in certain states. These taxes fund infrastructure and........

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