I understand what you’re saying and I have heard this argument often.

This seems to me to be a perfect example of the saying “two wrongs don’t make a right”.

Tariffs are harmful for people, whether another country puts them on our exports or if we put them on our imports. I see this argument as stating, “If we are being hurt by tariffs, we should hurt ourselves even more by placing tariffs on others.” In other words, we can’t sell our products to country X, so let’s make ours more expensive in retaliation (by limiting options).

In the example of George Bush and the steel tariffs, it only took the *threat* of a trade war to make him back down. I believe we can do the same thing, without ever having to further injure the public with higher prices.

The ivory towers of libertarian philosophies too often do not take into consideration real world circumstances.

We no longer have the arsenal of democracy, our manufacturing base, because of globalist free trade policies and our government confiscating wealth through income taxation. Take the confiscation of our wealth out of the equation first, then drop tariffs.

If not for this methodology our chances of competing with slave labor markets would be enhanced tremendously. Without taxes on income America would become a safe haven for investors, both domestic and foreign. Without income taxation we could much more rapidly re-tool to usher in the Hydrogen based energy economy.

Side note for all who scoff:

All internal combustion engines, jets, cars, trucks,trains and ships can run on Hydrogen TODAY. Water covers 70% of earth. Where would the wars be over fuel then?

Cheap abundant energy, ahhhhh… Please go to http://www.knowledgepublications.com for more info. No I don’t make a dime.

As far a Bush is concerned, I don’t blame him for tariffs with countries that restrict our products. It’s called balance and the art of making a deal.