"The consumption in this country leans heavily on imports -- everyday clothes, furniture, toys, cars, small appliances. The retail stores are packed with imports."
Very true. The trade deficit is up to $600 billion per year and continuing to go up.
Why is that? To a great extent because we have a tax system that puts US producers at a disadvantage vs their foreign competitiors, not only in other markets, but here in our own, the largest consumer market in the world.
If we address the root cause, it seems logical that the symptoms will be affected. That is what is disengenuous about your argument. You say that, even if we address the root cause, the symptoms will remain.