Trump says tariffs are going to be enough to pay down national debt. It likely won't even touch the sides

[lapfog_1]

2. regressive tax

1) tariffs are a regressive tax on average Americans. Period. Full stop. Importers pay the Treasury. They will pass along the cost to the consumer. No foreign country or business will ever pay a tariff. So there are no "spoils".

2) Tariffs are either a tool to onshore jobs ( manufacturing ) to the USA OR they are a treasury revenue source. By definition they cannot be both.

3) Redistributing ( in the form of either tax rebates or reductions OR in the form of direct payments ) is a direct form of redistribution of wealth. Pure communism. If I do not ever purchase a tariff good and I receive a direct payment or tax relief... that is the very definition of redistribution of wealth. If only consumers that buy imported products receive money proportional to the tariffs that they paid... why have the tariff in the first place?

4) The retaliatory moves by countries that experience the loss of income will hurt USA exporters of both services and goods, not to mention the loss of tourism will cost the US economy far more than the tariffs will raise in revenue.

Watch Ben Stein in Ferris Buellers day off explain the root cause of the Great Depression to his bored high school class. I have a feeling Ben ( a intelligent conservative ) wrote that scene himself. One of the hardest game shows ever was "Win Ben Steins Money".