[harpseal]

No, you are the one proposing slavery when you propose tarriffs to artifically raise the price of goods and services then you are saying that you have the right to enslave your fellow Americans

Calling a consumption tax which has been in effect since the first Congress under the Constitution slavery is insane.

Advocating tarriffs to boost prices and wages is not a free martket. When you empower politicians to set tarriffs to protect wages, you have empowered those politicians to determine the wage levels to be protected, ie, to determine a fair wage.

Even John C. Calhoun was not as radically against tarriffs as you seem to be. Aprotedtive tarriff was in place since the Presidency of John Adams revenue tarriffs even longer. Setting tarriffs is one of the powers of Congress they are so empowered by teh Constitution of the USA which I am certain you do not like or support based upon this statement about politicians. Excise taxes and tarriffs have been arround since George Washington was president. Actually several of teh Colonies had these taxes as a means of support prior to the adoption of the Constitution. You are alone in calling this type of tax imposing slavery on my fellow Americans.

I am sorry you can not see that an internally free market is created behind national tarriffs and that such can lead to economic development. I suggest you read some American History. I further note that imported goods are not your property to have and to hold in the USA until they come through customs and any tarriffs are paid. likewise production of alcohol may be subject to an excise tax and you will pay it or face the wrath of the Federal government. George Washington brought out the Federal troops to put down Shea's rebellion. Smuggling has been a crime since John Jay was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. So do not accuse someone of theft unless and until you have actually purchased that property and if foreign manufactured it has been lawfully imported to the USA otherwise it quite Constitutionally is subject to seizure.

[DugwayDuke]

Yes, tarriffs were authorized by the Constitution from the beginning to fund the federal government. Yes, slavery was also authorized by the Constitution from the beginning. Just because something was enacted by the founders does not necessarily justify it's existance.

You go beyond funding the federal government by consumption taxes when you state your intention is to protect jobs, not fund the government. Forcing someone to buy the product of another when other cheaper products are available is a form of slavery regardless of how many former presidents advocated it.

The issue of when imported goods become my property is irrelevent. The issue is the money I make within the US. It is always my property and when you tell me how I can spend it, you have appropriated my property and my labor. That, sir, is slavery.