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To: central_va
So would you be in favor of completely replacing the income tax with a system of tariffs and national sales taxes?

Yes, but I'd only use tariffs as a political weapon - if country X places a tariff on our goods, we place an equivalent tariff on theirs, as a tactic to get both tariffs eliminated, not as a long-term source of trade protection or revenue.

Eliminating corporate income taxes will do far more to improve American economic activity than tariffs ever could, even if they worked the way you think they'd would. (Historically, however, tariffs as trade protection lead more to stagnation than to development, as that safety net becomes a hammock.)

But again, the key point here is that the best prescription is to lessen government involvement in the long run.

171 posted on 12/05/2014 6:38:28 AM PST by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: kevkrom

Please note the only countries that don’t tariff our exports to them are Singapore and Canada(for the most part).


172 posted on 12/05/2014 6:46:10 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: kevkrom
Historically, however, tariffs as trade protection lead more to stagnation than to development, as that safety net becomes a hammock.)

Washington, Madison and Jefferson would disagree. The safety net would be unnecessary IF WE HAD NOT OFF SHORED MOST OF OUR MANUFACTURING BASE.

173 posted on 12/05/2014 6:47:57 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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