Your proposal to replace them with a tariff is more than lip service? LOL!
You spend no time or energy doing so either.
Why waste time or energy? If we could shrink the size of government to the point where we could raise enough revenues using a tariff instead of an income/capital gains/corporate tax, I'd be the first to sign up.
And you do spend all your time and energy promoting trade enemies
Wrong. I promote low tariffs for all to benefit all. Both producers and consumers. Buyers and sellers.
And opposing the only legitimate alternative to the existing tax structure...which you admit needs to go.
Ping me when you figure out how to raise enough with tariffs to run the government.
Yes. It was fine with the Republic for most of its first 100+ years. Indeed, the real embarrasing problem was what to do with all those surplusses.
Why waste time or energy? If we could shrink the size of government to the point where we could raise enough revenues using a tariff instead of an income/capital gains/corporate tax, I'd be the first to sign up.
Well sign up then. Its not a chicken or egg first situation. You just resolve to go with it. And then make it work. And you approach it from the standpoint that we should be "pay as you go." Living within our means. This creates a political dynamic that could be used to constrain the spending proclivities of Leftists and RINOs.
Wrong. I promote low tariffs for all to benefit all. Both producers and consumers. Buyers and sellers.
Wrong. You habitually promote only the import side of the issue....i.e., the foreign producers. Period. And do squat to lower the tariffs and other barriers on their populaces of our foreign competitors. And you also don't allow for any coercive countervailing policy leverage...the flexibility to compel them to do so. [ Witness the Administration futility to get China to change. The "A" team came back home with their tails between their legs. LOL!} And you also abdicate our sovereignty via a UN-subsidiary...the WTO...the umpiring over the playing field.
And opposing the only legitimate alternative to the existing tax structure...which you admit needs to go.
Ping me when you figure out how to raise enough with tariffs to run the government.
If you want to spend that much, there is also the additional revenues that would be raised by the additional consumption tax of a National sales tax too.
BTW, the Government ran just fine with only a Tariff until the Civil War, and then again fine after until WW-1. As I noted up above.