Tariffs were the largest source of federal revenue from the 1790s to the eve of World War I, until it was surpassed by income taxes.
Yes indeed that is true. Can you find anything today that resembles that era's domestic and global economy?
In the 1700s were we importing apples (the fruit, not the electronic gizmos) from New Zealand? Did we have Just-in-Time inventory management systems then? Which do you suppose is easier to implement in the 19th century economy, an import duty at our nation's seaports, or an individual income tax on every man, woman and child in every holler and crossroad across a sparsely populated nation? Could the Fe'ral Government today even give the illusion of getting by primarily on Tariffs?
Because, other than a snarky cynical answer, why was the 16th Amendment even passed? It takes one heck of a lot of political agreement to get enough States to ratify it (even though some entities claim that it wasn't properly ratified). Why are tariffs never even mentioned today by conservatives or even libertarians but only by selfish Union thugs, Marxists, Anti-americans and random kooks who can barely look ahead enough to pack a lunch?
I am not a cheerleader for tariffs. I suppose there are good reasons for some tariffs.
I am an implacable foe of global anything as a positive moral value, because it will inevitably lead to the diminution of our sovereignty as well as our moral and cultural identity.
Do you not see that the end game of globalism is the equalization of global wage cost?
Wow, we save an extra $1,000 per year for 10 years buying communist slave labor manufactured goods. We pay the price with a narrowed and hollowed out manufacturing sector, and wonder about job loss.
Trading freely with our enemies is stupid on the face of it. We want to defeat our enemies, not strengthen them. But perhaps we no longer have enemies who want to see our country destroyed, just multi-culti trading partners. After all, China has had most favored nation status for 30 years, and things are going our way. Not.