The problem with this is that it would at most replace a fraction of income taxes.
My theory is that it's just another lever that's being pulled to centralize power in the executive. The president can pick winners and losers because the power to levy tariffs is surgical, and so individual companies can be targeted if they don't fall in line with the dictator's whims.
Imagine Apple facing 1000% tariffs unless they take down content that's critical of the president. It's not outside the realm of possibility.
>The problem with this is that it would at most replace a fraction of income taxes.
Yeah, but it isn't like they're unaware of this. They're looting the country. If the money gained from the tariffs wont offset the tax cuts, well that must mean we need to cut further, privatize further...
There plan that passed the house is to reduce income tax on households that make over $360000 annually. So we're shifting that burden to consumers who spend a much larger percentage of their income on the goods subject to tariffs? And why tariff our good allies instead of enemies?
It's been the standard, incrementally implemented policy of both parties since the 1980s. The Republicans have been worse about it, but the Democrats hands are far from clean here.
How does anyone not see what is happening.
They want to replace income tax (progressive) with tariffs (regressive).