"Economics" is not the economy. "Economics" is the study of the economy, with models, theories, and predictions that seek to model the economy. As with any other intellectual pursuit, it's not for the intellectually lazy...IE, anyone who doesn't understand the limitations of economics.
That includes "those who have a 'reasonable' grasp of economics."
Economics, like any model, is only as good as the quality of the model...and the application. It can be very good, or very bad. It's not the end of understanding the economy, but merely the start.
How is it, you ask, that US consumers are not paying for the tariffs? They must be, you say, because that's what the model says...regardless of the real world results.
Except that there are assumptions behind the model, sometimes valid, sometimes not. Do you have any idea what they are, in this case?
I'll give you a hint..."Static Analysis."
U.S. tariffs is a tax on the American consumer. That’s a fact, Jack.