[coloradan]

If you are not a statist as you claim, then why do you want to give the government additional power to coercively interfere with markets? It would appear that you seek to engage in behavior micromanagement (specifically, business micromanagement) through coercive incentives. Although this sort of thing has a lot of precedent, it is the precedent of statists and authoritarians “who know best” but not of limited-government, liberty-minded individuals or platforms.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Another question.

A very good one, which we should consider very carefully before embarking on any such plan.

All I am saying is we are spending ourselves to import bankruptcy.

Once our money and our production is gone, America is through.

[central_va]

The 1st United States Congress, wanting a straightforward tax that was not too onerous and easy to collect, passed the Tariff of 1790. Like all subsequent tariffs it taxed imported goods at their Ports of entry to raise revenue for the federal government. Treasury agents collected the tariff before goods could be landed, and what became the Coast Guard prevented smuggling. Tariffs were the largest (approaching 95% at times) source of federal revenue until the Federal income tax began after 1913. For well over a century the federal government was largely financed by tariffs averaging about 20% on foreign imports. There are no tariffs for imports or shipments from other states.

I have more respect for the 1st US Congress than for a bunch of Benedict Arnold Free Traitors....