"If tariffs protect the rights of the individual, then they do not reduce spending power, they protect it. If a tariff allows us to preserve our system of government, then how does it harm the quality of our life?"
What rights of the individual are being protected? Do we have a right to a certain wage or specific type of employement?
Your argument is that we should have more government involvement to solve problems that are created by to much government involvement. It would make more sense to reduce corporate taxes and reduce regulations.
How profitable do you think US manufacturers would be if they could not access markets outside of the US?
In an ideal world, income tax would be reduced by the amount raised by tariffs.
Elect better Congressmen--and for that matter, an Executive who cares.