The gilded age. When , as trump told you, tarrifs

were a most beautiful thing. Back in the gilded age. Late eighteen hundreds, early nineteen. He tauted the amazing wealth of the time. He told you he would like to bring on his own "golden age."
And you bought it.
Do you know how average people lived during the Gilded Age?
The glitz was a facade. The wealthy lived the backs of the oppressed. Look it up.

This is what you voted for. This is what you get.

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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

Tariffs worked when trade was largely local or national at best. Only specialty or luxury goods were imports and there was no local alternative to french Perfume or Ivory.. Now it is commodities that are imported and whole industries have offshored to remain competitive. Tariffs cannot be used as a protective measure any more in most cases. And the common argument applies. They only hurt the country that imposes the tariff..So the only legitimate reason to apply a tariff is as a defacto consumption tax..😷

Carla · 61-69, F

@whowasthatmaskedman i believe during the times mentioned, there was robust trade here in the us, both imports snd exports.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@whowasthatmaskedman In the U.S. tariffs also flourished during its early years because it was the largest source of funding for the Federal government. There was no income tax; and property, sales, and poll taxes were the provinces of local and state governments. So it was the primary revenue stream for the Federal government in addition to being a way to protect the nascent industrialization of the nation and creating a new, separate and rebellious culture and identity. Trump may see it as a way to "starve the beast" viz a viz cutting taxes but is overlooking the fact that times have changed and we are a consumer nation now, and the MAGA crowd may turn on him when the prices go up or the shelves go empty at their local Walmart.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Carla Of course trade happened. But the first machinary and produced items came from the old world (Like steam engines and locomotices) were imported whole or in parts and assmbled, while raw materials went back in exchamge. Only later did people from Europe set up shop to build the machines.. At that point teriffs became useful to encourage industry growth..😷

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@dancingtongue Indeed. "Taxation without representation" was all about a tariff tax on imported tea..😷