Victor Davis Hanson

And that would mean I don't even think Donald Trump and his team have said we need parity right now. Just to take one example, they would say to Mexico, you were part of a free trade North American continent. What happened? You're running 50 and then 80 and then 100, then 150. Now you're running 177. billion-dollar annual trade deficit.

And that would mean I don't even think Donald Trump and his team have said we need parity right now. Just to take one example, they would say to Mexico, you were part of a free trade North American continent. What happened? You're running 50 and then 80 and then 100, then 150. Now you're running 177. billion-dollar annual trade deficit.

You're a conduit for the communist Chinese to get around tariff policies, which are asymmetrical in their favor. And this is in addition to you have $63 billion coming to your country in remittances, most of whom are people here, are from whom people are here illegally, and they're subsidized by our own welfare system. And then there's some $20 to $30 billion in excess

You're a conduit for the communist Chinese to get around tariff policies, which are asymmetrical in their favor. And this is in addition to you have $63 billion coming to your country in remittances, most of whom are people here, are from whom people are here illegally, and they're subsidized by our own welfare system. And then there's some $20 to $30 billion in excess

that's estimated to come from smuggling in the cartel's fentanyl trade, which was killed. That's not the behavior of a good neighbor, and we're just asking for parity.

that's estimated to come from smuggling in the cartel's fentanyl trade, which was killed. That's not the behavior of a good neighbor, and we're just asking for parity.

And I think he could apply that logic and tone, vocabulary, diction to all of these Europe, China, maybe not China because we expect it from them, but Europe, Canada, Mexico, and not let them get away with the idea that we're waging a unilateral trade war when we're just asking for parity and reciprocity.

And I think he could apply that logic and tone, vocabulary, diction to all of these Europe, China, maybe not China because we expect it from them, but Europe, Canada, Mexico, and not let them get away with the idea that we're waging a unilateral trade war when we're just asking for parity and reciprocity.

Well, to put it another way, We didn't have an income tax. It was envisioned in 1913, but ratified 1916. So then that begs the question, where did the federal government get their money? They had no other source of revenue other than tariffs, essentially. And that was... It wasn't just...

Well, to put it another way, We didn't have an income tax. It was envisioned in 1913, but ratified 1916. So then that begs the question, where did the federal government get their money? They had no other source of revenue other than tariffs, essentially. And that was... It wasn't just...

the idea of protecting domestic industries, but it was also a revenue generating mechanism for the federal government. And one of the reasons, to be frank, why people did not want an income tax is because they felt that government by needs would be small and manageable. the federal government would be if it relied on tariff income rather than everybody paying a percentage of their wages.

the idea of protecting domestic industries, but it was also a revenue generating mechanism for the federal government. And one of the reasons, to be frank, why people did not want an income tax is because they felt that government by needs would be small and manageable. the federal government would be if it relied on tariff income rather than everybody paying a percentage of their wages.

That was never envisioned by the founders. But tariffs were pretty much part and parcel of the American project until about 1916. And then all of a sudden, we substituted them with this vast new influx of the IRS and income tax revenue. And then people said, well, they're kind of obsolete now.

That was never envisioned by the founders. But tariffs were pretty much part and parcel of the American project until about 1916. And then all of a sudden, we substituted them with this vast new influx of the IRS and income tax revenue. And then people said, well, they're kind of obsolete now.

But they were designed both to fund the federal government, but fund a small federal government, and also to protect vulnerable industries. But remember what the opposition is saying, Charlie, the free but not fair opposition. They're saying... Well, we believe that free trade must be maintained at all costs without exception.

But they were designed both to fund the federal government, but fund a small federal government, and also to protect vulnerable industries. But remember what the opposition is saying, Charlie, the free but not fair opposition. They're saying... Well, we believe that free trade must be maintained at all costs without exception.

And when you say it hurts Americans, Americans lose jobs in American industries or offshore or outsourced, they say, no, no, it doesn't matter. because the subsidies of our foreign governments are not sustainable if they're dumping product here below the cost of production. And we found that not to be true. China's been fine doing it for almost a half century.

And when you say it hurts Americans, Americans lose jobs in American industries or offshore or outsourced, they say, no, no, it doesn't matter. because the subsidies of our foreign governments are not sustainable if they're dumping product here below the cost of production. And we found that not to be true. China's been fine doing it for almost a half century.

Then they said, well, it lowers consumer prices. because you're bringing in cheap stuff that domestic people have to adjust to. That may or may not be true, but if the other side is being subsidized and your own producers are not being subsidized, then it's a way to put people into bankruptcy. And I can attest for that as somebody who farmed

Then they said, well, it lowers consumer prices. because you're bringing in cheap stuff that domestic people have to adjust to. That may or may not be true, but if the other side is being subsidized and your own producers are not being subsidized, then it's a way to put people into bankruptcy. And I can attest for that as somebody who farmed