Venezuela is a major oil producer. We are likely to accept whatever government is in place there, so as to maintain valuable trade relations. Our dependence on oil is a lifestyle choice, based on:

(1) Large motor vehicles
(2) Safety factor of larger vehicles

Fuel economy could be quadrupled if we switched to smaller, lighter vehicles. Daily fuel consumption per vehicle would be so minimal that drivers could manufacture their own fuel (home hydrogen electrolyzer). However, most people will not buy such smaller, light vehicles as long as everyone else does not - it would be too conspicuous. Also, larger vehicles are considered safer when sharing the road with other large vehicles (tractor-trailers, trucks, large cars). This latter assumption is half real, half illusion. If small cars incorporated as many safety features as a formula one racecar (4-point seatbelts, helmets, F15-style fighter jet cockpit, they would probably be safer than an SUV.