I hve no argument with your comments.
My only point in the whole “tariff” issue is that Trump threw out the idea of totally replacing the income tax with tarriffs.
1. Most in favor of high and broad enough tarriffs to replace the income tax ignroe that it is the U.S. importer that pays the tarriif not the foreign exporter, so the tarriff is a cost IN the U.S. domestic economy. 2. It’s not feasible or practival goal. It cannot raise revnues even to pre-Trump levels without being so large and hitting so many imports, friends and allies as to start a “tariff war”, which will be damaaging to all. 3. It will hurt as many U.S. domestic companies as it may help, as many imports are not items for retail consumption but materials domestic producers use for what they produce here. Raising their costs with tarrifs will hurt them. 4. This is 2023, not 1789, 1800s or 1930. The world financial, economic, trade, tarriffs and tex envrionments have changed immensely not just in the U.S. but globally in that time. One cannot pretend those earlier eras, with much differenent conditions, can with a mere stroke of legislatve pen in the U.S. be resurrected without economic pain all around.
Calling anyone opposed to the idea of a one shot replacement of the income tax with tarriffs a “Free Traitor” demonstrates ignorance and nothing less.
Of course you are right, and I've never seen anything in Trump's actions which represent more than simply punishing unfair trade with higher US tariffs while also protecting American industries/jobs.
I'd say those are radical enough changes for now to maintain US economic prosperity and independence -- especially considering Trump's unemployment rate was already down to circa 3%.
Why mess with success?
Yes, US economic self-sufficiency is important in a dangerous world, but what is the point of being "self-sufficient" from our closest friends and allies?
That makes no sense but focusing on freeing ourselves from dependency on potential enemies (i.e., CCP China, Russia, etc.), as well as making certain that trade with our allies is "fair" -- that does make a lot of sense, and in my understanding, that's what Pres. Trump was & is all about.
imho yrmv