[austrianecon]

But are not tarifs in general a political action? Do not governments institute tariffs? And if I slap a tax or tariff on your goods, will you not slap them on mine? To what purpose then does all this serve other than to reduce economic activity in general? No, I'm sorry. I mean this as no slight to you, but I think you have been somewhat misguided in your economic instruction. Tariffs are bad for a myriad of reasons. No, wait, let me back up. A general revenue seeking tariff is.......acceptable, for lack of a better term.. Special interest tariffs, and tariffs soley for political purposes are bad.

[bvw]

I don't know. The more general (and light) the better as any tariff, excise, retail or sales tax goes. Yet there are circumstances that have to allow for specific tariffs. Like any tax -- tariffs have their poisons, and these poisons can't be ignored -- especially with a tariff -- as it's like passing a poison to your neighbor.

A tariff has to be marketed very adeptly -- marketed to the very foreign nations you are imposing it on. That did not happen in the past to the needed degree. I do believe we are capable of doing it now.