You've got to raise the revenue somehow. The question is whether or not to have your own people pay for it or for others to do so.

Tariffs were the preferred method of financing under the Constitution until 1915 when the Income Tax was proposed. I still think that tariffs are a far preferable method than holding the individual power over the People that an income tax proposes. One of the dangerous side-effects of a personal/corporate income tax is the chilling effect on free speech with tax-exemptions.

I would also note that there must be actual trade in order to collect revenue from tariffs, so there is an inherent feedback mechanism present that leads to better management and policy. That feedback mechanism is absent in the personal/corporate income tax leading to ever increasing tax rates to fund ever-increasing government spending. Tariffs also provide a very convenient political tool when negotiating with other nations. I would note how Most Favored Nation status was on the Chinese' list for decades before it was finally granted.

Here is how it goes down. Leftist socialists Claim to want to help the low income folks. They say entry level employees should have a higher income.( That is true only when the employee's value to the employer increases). They then enact laws ignoring free market forces and that take away their ability to work or enter the work force.

If they wanted to improve peoples opportunities
tell them that they need to be a value to an employer, tell the be responsible for your actions and that increasing your skills is the path to success.

More to the point, many (if not all) who create the laws choose to exempt themselves form the consequences of them.

I will do so -- thanks again blarman.