I applaud both your responses to this WEAK, absurd article.
Can be torn apart by a college freshman in five minutes.
Pick and choose, anybody?
This essay is an example of what libertards call arguing "Economics 101". Their belief is that if their argument passes the "Economics 101" test then anyone who disagrees with it is a complete naif.
As so many on this thread have pointed out, however, we need to get past Economics 101 in order to understand the full implications of economic policy.
The idea that everything else can be held steady and we just need to compare tariffs vs. no tariffs is not even worthy of being called tinker toys economics.