[RKV]

I have done so, having studied economics at graduate level. Not so sure you can say the same. Don’t make assumptions. I know my economic history and know that the the percent of gdp which was consumed by the federal government was generally around 5% prior to ww1. I am well aware of how the gov was funded prior to the 16th amendment. My family has been in the americas since 1620, so the history thing goes with the turf. On your part you have no idea what shutting down what export industries we have left would do - make 10% unemployment much worse is the simple version. Better to send 10 million plus illegals home to Mexico (or elsewhere). That and repeal about a bajillion job killing regulations and make government employee unions illegal.

[saltlick]

"I have done so, having studied economics at graduate level. Not so sure you can say the same. Don’t make assumptions. I know my economic history and know that the the percent of gdp which was consumed by the federal government was generally around 5% prior to ww1. I am well aware of how the gov was funded prior to the 16th amendment. My family has been in the americas since 1620, so the history thing goes with the turf. On your part you have no idea what shutting down what export industries we have left would do - make 10% unemployment much worse is the simple version. Better to send 10 million plus illegals home to Mexico (or elsewhere). That and repeal about a bajillion job killing regulations and make government employee unions illegal."

First, I would like to say thank you for your civilized and informative post. I respect that very much, even though we have some disagreement over tariffs.

1620 is a ways back, for sure. I know some of my family came here in the mid 1800's, but not sure how much further back the rest go. And I've only had one econ course back in undergrad, so it looks like you've out-educated me on economics.

So I'm looking at this from a layman's perspective: When you express the concern for the export industries we have left going under if tariffs are enacted, is the reason you think they will go under from retaliatory tariffs that the nations we have targeted with tariffs will presumably impose on our products? If that is the case, I would guess that some retaliation may occur, but that other exports of ours would be unique/sought-after enough, that retaliatory tariffs would not be levied on all of our exports.

I think the illegals situation is worse in your state, but we are not immune here in the midwest, either.

"That and repeal about a bajillion job killing regulations",
I will def. agree with you there!