[Boogieman]

“Across the board import of 20% plus a small federal retail sales tax”

Since the tariffs get passed on to the consumer, you’re really talking about a 20%+ federal sales tax, in effect. Basically we’d be paying European level taxes for American level social programs. Color me skeptical that the economy would keep chugging along.

[central_va]

Since the tariffs get passed on to the consumer, you’re really talking about a 20%+ federal sales tax, in effect.

BS. You don't know how tariffs work do you? We import $2T in goods and services per year. YOU DON'T PAY A TARIFF ON EVERYTHING YOU BUY OR SERVICE YOU USE. 20% of $2T is $400B. That will not balance the budget but a NRST of say 5% plus the economic stimulus of LOWERING income tax rates will super charge the economy and balance the budget. Also the repatriation of industry alone will stimulate the economy even more.

Import tariffs fix ever fiscal problem.