[Toddsterpatriot]

But if they wanted to dismantle American industry and to suppress/tax wages they would not want tariffs - they would be for "free" trade instead.

Wages are higher than before NAFTA passed. We manufacture and export more than ever. So much for free trade doing what you claim.

I think I do, but do not see what is your point.

You said:
Federal income tax came much later, I seriously doubt that they even considered that! You are projecting present into the past.

As you saw from the Constitution, they considered direct taxes, but they had to be apportioned. So, taking that into account, what other good source for revenues did they have besides tariffs?

[rgx5471]

Wages are higher than before NAFTA passed.

Averages don't give you the whole picture. NAFTA puts downward pressure primarily on low wages, not high wages. As a matter of fact, it may well lead to growth in high wages. Disproportionate growth of high wages could by itself explain rising average wages. These averages will not account for the decreased well being of lower wage workers.

Furthermore, average wages, along with productivity, rise over time. The time between now and when NAFTA was passed saw some of the largest rises in wages from unrelated factors. NAFTA's relative downward pressure on lower wages is real, and is not reflected in long term average wages trends.

We manufacture and export more than ever. So much for free trade doing what you claim.

Yeah, yeah. Go get another beer.