Trump is right: America was ‘built on tariffs’

[endicom]

Market Watch
Jeffry Bartash
Aug. 15, 2018

President Trump defended his use of tariffs to force other countries to renegotiate “unfair” trade deals by claiming that “our country was built on tariffs.” He’s right.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
 Our Country was built on Tariffs, and Tariffs are now leading us to great new Trade Deals - as opposed to the horrible and unfair Trade Deals that I inherited as your President. Other Countries should not be allowed to come in and steal the wealth of our great U.S.A. No longer!

America was a staunchly protectionist country for most of its history before World War II. One of the very first bills new President George Washington signed, for instance, was the Tariff Act of 1789. He inked the bill on July 4 of that year.

More... https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-is-right-america-was-built-on-tariffs-2018-08-15?mod=newsviewer_click

[ABX]

This article misses a huge point- at the time, Tariffs and duties were our only taxes and the highest were just about 5%. For the most part (except for some very progressive presidents) they weren't done for protectionism, it was simply the only means to tax prior to the 16th Amendment.

Now, the average American pays over 50% in taxes, fees, and government imposed surcharges before we even consider those tariffs. Americans are Taxed Enough Already and taxation is theft. There is nothing 'American' or 'Conservative' about adding to the burden of the American taxpayer by slapping on another 25% tax on what he buys in an attempt at central planning. The manufacturing world is also changing. Even domestic manufacturers rely on foreign products that are simply too expensive to make here, so as we've seen, this is hurting domestic manufacturers too. (example, Snap-on just announced they are closing their plant in the US and moving it to Mexico).

There is a reason the Constitution didn't make the process easy to add taxes. Article 1, Section 8 puts this responsibility in the hands of Congress- not the President. A couple of laws do allow the President to enact minimal tariffs in times of emergency, but all those laws require the President to still submit them to Congress within 60 days, something this President has not done.

There is nothing American about that at all.  And certainly not Conservative.

[INVAR]

There is a reason the Constitution didn't make the process easy to add taxes. Article 1, Section 8 puts this responsibility in the hands of Congress- not the President. A couple of laws do allow the President to enact minimal tariffs in times of emergency, but all those laws require the President to still submit them to Congress within 60 days, something this President has not done.

There is nothing American about that at all.  And certainly not Conservative.

It's the NEW Amerika and the NEW Conservatism dude!  Big out-of-control-tax-and-spend Government is okay when Trump runs it!!!  He and the GOP can manage Central Planning better than the Left can.

[ABX]

The last time we implemented tariffs of this scale post 16th Amendment (in non-war-time) was Smoot-Hawley and we know how that worked out. At that, Smoot initially bumped the economy before the effects started falling around it.

[ABX]

It's the NEW Amerika and the NEW Conservatism dude!  Big out-of-control-tax-and-spend Government is okay when Trump runs it!!!  He and the GOP can manage Central Planning better than the Left can.

Yep, Conservatives have gone from being 'Limited Government, Taxation is Theft, Taxed Enough Already' to 'Tax and Spend, Central Plan, Screw the Constitution'. I actually had someone the other day respond to me the old liberal line 'The Constitution is not a suicide pact'.

[debrawiest]

But...but...but...MAGA. 

[ABX]

Actually, I am wrong.

The Country was built on tariffs- fighting them.

Ever hear of the Boston Tea Party?

(Ironically, the President not going to Congress as the Constitution requires, also fits the bill of 'taxation without representation'). So maybe Trump is just playing King George.

[INVAR]

Actually, I am wrong.

The Country was built on tariffs- fighting them.

Ever hear of the Boston Tea Party?

(Ironically, the President not going to Congress as the Constitution requires, also fits the bill of 'taxation without representation'). So maybe Trump is just playing King George.

Once the unintended consequences of these tariffs manifest themselves, the Trump faithful - like the Democrats before them - will blame everything and everyone else for what is transpiring.  Including those of us who are criticizing 'their good and righteous president'.

Hell, they've been saying that we are responsible if Trump fails since before the election, right after they tell us that we are irrelevant.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

This article misses a huge point- at the time, Tariffs and duties were our only taxes and the highest were just about 5%. For the most part (except for some very progressive presidents) they weren't done for protectionism, it was simply the only means to tax prior to the 16th Amendment.

Now, the average American pays over 50% in taxes, fees, and government imposed surcharges before we even consider those tariffs. Americans are Taxed Enough Already and taxation is theft. There is nothing 'American' or 'Conservative' about adding to the burden of the American taxpayer by slapping on another 25% tax on what he buys in an attempt at central planning. The manufacturing world is also changing. Even domestic manufacturers rely on foreign products that are simply too expensive to make here, so as we've seen, this is hurting domestic manufacturers too. (example, Snap-on just announced they are closing their plant in the US and moving it to Mexico).

There is a reason the Constitution didn't make the process easy to add taxes. Article 1, Section 8 puts this responsibility in the hands of Congress- not the President. A couple of laws do allow the President to enact minimal tariffs in times of emergency, but all those laws require the President to still submit them to Congress within 60 days, something this President has not done.

There is nothing American about that at all.  And certainly not Conservative.

Why do you continue to be so upset at the Executive attempting to get a level playing field for Americans?

Most of the tariffs enacted or proposed by Trump are specifically targeting goods and countries that have been stifling our own goods by high tariffs on them, or, in the case mostly for China, of governmental subsidizing of goods to undercut similar products made by Americans so they can be dumped into America.

These have been going on for a long time and boosted China's and other's economy at the US expense.

Most other presidents have avoided the confrontation, but this President is tacking it head-on as he knows any short term headaches will be overcome by long-term successes, some of which we can already see.

That is certainly a conservative position, in contrast to what you believe.

I support the USA in disparaging the other countries who have taken advantage of us.

[endicom]

Most other presidents have avoided the confrontation, but this President is tacking it head-on as he knows any short term headaches will be overcome by long-term successes, some of which we can already see.

That seems to be just what he's doing. We've been kicking many cans down the road for so long that there's not much left to the cans.

[Absalom]

Jeffrey Bartash scored a bullseye.
Not only were we built on tariffs; the GOP aggressively promoted this economic
strategy throughout their 70 year political ascendancy from Johnson to Hoover.
It's champion was McKinley, as Congress critter from Ohio, later POTUS, who
labeled free trade an abomination; heralding protectionism as necessary to
protect/shelter our so called "infant industries."
Apparently he shared genes w/kindred smucks such as Boehner and Kashich!

[kevindavis007]

Jeffrey Bartash scored a bullseye.
Not only were we built on tariffs; the GOP aggressively promoted this economic
strategy throughout their 70 year political ascendancy from Johnson to Hoover.
It's champion was McKinley, as Congress critter from Ohio, later POTUS, who
labeled free trade an abomination; heralding protectionism as necessary to
protect/shelter our so called "infant industries."
Apparently he shared genes w/kindred smucks such as Boehner and Kashich!

Hoover is the last person we want to emulate.

[jpsb]

Smoot-Hawley and we know how that worked out.

The BIG lie, tell it often enough .......

[kevindavis007]

The BIG lie, tell it often enough .......

It is the truth