Dear Protagoras,
Tariffs, as used by the founders, were also used to protect industries. From what I've read, Alexander Hamilton pushed for tariffs to afford some modest protection to nascent industries, and his position was adopted to a signficant degree. Although also used for revenues, the fact is that arguments over the protectionist use of tariffs fueled many political battles between regions of the United States in the first years of the 19th century.
Thus, the use of tariffs for at least modest protectionist purposes dates back to the period of the Founders, and to at least some of the Founders, themselves.
But, there were some even then who opposed protectionist tariffs, so your own position also has a long pedigree.
However, it's not an ideological question to me. I don't believe, a priori, that tariffs are always bad or evil. Even ones that are protectionist in nature.
I don't believe that the operation of the markets is the only yardstick by which to judge governmental, social, and economic decisions. In general, I favor less government as opposed to more (at least less than what we have now), in general I favor lower taxes to higher taxes, and in general I prefer free trade to protectionism.
However, I wonder whether this is a place where those generalitities might not apply so well.
sitetest
There is always a bad apple in every barrel.
I don't believe that the operation of the markets is the only yardstick by which to judge governmental, social, and economic decisions.
Nor do I, nor have I indicated that. The topic however is concerned with the markets.
However, I wonder whether this is a place where those generalitities might not apply so well.
That is always the rub. Markets work and are acceptable until they are inconvenient or politically unpopular. Then all of a sudden the judgment of the few is better than the judgment of the many. And force replaces voluntary arrangements which are mutually acceptable.