Paul Krugman explains why lowering taxes on gasoline will lead to an increase in gas prices over the long term, not a decrease. At the end of his column, Krugman suggests that cynicism drives George Bush, Jr. to promote these policies, not ignorance of economics. Trying to figure out whether Bush is governed by cynicism or ignorance is a challenge that I’m not ready to tackle. (This is a New York Times problem, but you shouldn’t have to register to see it. If you do, let me know.)