Protectionist tariffs were the norm when we we lucky enough to be a roughly sucessfull nation before becoming the great economic super power. We didn't become successful because of them, but in spite of them.
If one was to read a bit of history, the US became the great economic super power based on a few things. Vast (virtually) untapped natural resources, a Christian/libertarian work ethic, and the fact that the rest of the world bombed the ever loving crap out of each others' factories in the early 20th century. Trade allowed us to capitalize on these advantages. Had we kept our noses stuck in the foolishness of the dark ages, we would have missed one of the greatest economic booms in history.
P.S. It was behind high tariff walls that the rest of the world became our bitches. Is that really a great argument for raising taxes? If you're going to argue that tariffs were the reason we became successful, please "explain" why they were also the reason all other nations became the opposite.
First of all our industrial might was built from 1830's thru the 1960's. During most of that period
we had high tariffs. Used to be Republicans wanted tariffs and Democrats didn't.
Used to be that gov was funded by tariffs and not a progressive income tax. I kind of like that.
The reason tariffs help us become a economic super power is very simple. Tariffs allowed the USA
to develop our industry without having to compete with the super powers of the 19th and early
20th century. England and Germany. Note that England economic strength declined after adopting
so called free trade. Lincoln said "If we buy the rail from England, we will have the rail and England
will have the money. But if we make the rail here we will have the rail and we will have the money."
Lincoln was quite correct on that.
All the rest of the world did not become the opposite. WW1 took a terrible toll on Europe but
Europe recovered and then along comes WW2. Again a terrible toll on Europe (and Japan) but
both have recovered and it is interesting to note both have protectionist tariffs and other restrictions
that hinder American companies from completing in their markets as does China.
Please explain how China became an economic super power behind high tariff walls if tariffs are bad
for a nations economy? Dido the super power of Europe, Germany.
We are broke, up to our neck in debt and running huge trade deficits. I'd say our free trade
experiment has been a huge failure. Maybe we should go back to what we know works, protecting
American industry and American jobs. Just like what most of the rest of the world is doing.
