A famous and smart person named Paul Krugman said that people should not blame or praise President Biden for the cost of gas because it is not mostly under his control. But, some people still think about how much gas costs when they decide if they like the president or not. So, even though gas prices are going down soon, it might not make more people like Biden. Read from source...
1. Krugman's statement that presidents have minimal influence on gas prices is contradictory to his later claim that they are underrated in political analysis. A more consistent argument would be that presidents have some but limited influence on gas prices, and therefore should not be blamed or credited for them.
2. Krugon's reference to futures prices as an indicator of future gas prices is questionable, since futures markets are subject to speculation, manipulation, and uncertainty. A more reliable source would be actual data on current and projected gas supply and demand, or surveys of experts and consumers on their expectations.
3. Krugman's comparison of gas prices as a percentage of median weekly earnings is misleading, since it does not account for the variability and volatility of both variables over time. A more meaningful comparison would be to look at the real purchasing power of gas for consumers, or the ratio of gas prices to other goods and services that people value.
4. Krugman's example of partisanship distorting public perception is anecdotal and does not establish a causal link between political affiliation and gas price opinions. A more rigorous study would be needed to control for other factors that may influence people's views on gas prices, such as income, education, location, media exposure, etc.
5. Krugman's question at the end of the article is vague and unanswerable, since it does not specify what kind of impact or in what direction the expected drop in gas prices would have on Biden's popularity. A more clear and testable hypothesis would be needed to make a valid prediction or explanation.
Neutral
Summary:
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman discusses the potential impact of falling gas prices on President Biden's popularity. He argues that gas prices should not be a political issue since presidents have little control over them. However, he acknowledges that partisanship can distort public perception and influence opinions on gas prices. Krugman concludes by questioning whether the expected drop in gas prices would actually help Biden's poll numbers.