Larry Elder on 'Supercharging the U.S. Economy' Using a Proven Method

From the WND News Center to this writer for MHProNews and this Patch is the article shown in Part I of this report with analysis. Part II will have additional information plus other topics.

Part I

THE SAGE FROM SOUTH CENTRAL

The Founding Fathers funded government through tariffs

'In 1900, government at all three levels took less than 9% in taxes and fees'
By Larry Elder | February 22, 2025

President Donald Trump calls tariff "the most beautiful word in the dictionary." This refutes the orthodoxy of unilateral free trade championed for hundreds of years beginning with the 1776 "Wealth of Nations" author Adam Smith, widely known as the father of modern economics.

But economist Donald J. Boudreaux of the American Institute for Economic Research and former economics department chair at George Mason University writes Smith offered four exceptions to the principle of unilateral free trade: "These exceptions are, in the order in which Smith took them up, protective tariffs for purposes of (1) national security; (2) ensuring that imports are taxed by the home government no less than the home government taxes domestically produced goods and services that compete with imports; (3) pressuring foreign governments to reduce their tariffs; and (4) ensuring that workers in protected industries are not all hit suddenly and unexpectedly with the need to find new jobs."

Trump correctly points out that tariffs, at one time, served as the principal source of federal government revenue. From the nation's founding until the Civil War, tariffs generated 90% of federal revenue. Even from the Civil War until 1913, when the Constitution was amended to provide an income tax, tariffs produced 50% of federal revenue. In 1900, government at all three levels – federal, state and local – took less than 9% in taxes and fees from the American people. Today, it takes about 32%. And if one estimates the cost of unfunded mandates, an admittedly subjective exercise, government takes nearly half of the income of the people. And it will likely get worse. Adam N. Michel, director of Tax Policy Studies at the CATO Institute, writes: "Facing a $2 trillion annual federal budget deficit in 2024, Americans are underpaying for the government they currently receive."

If government were reduced to the size intended by the Founding Fathers, tariffs could once again replace the income tax as the primary source of federal government revenue. This is a big "if" that would require the radical downsizing I proposed in a 2010 column:

I. Sell or lease land. The federal government owns about 700 million acres, more than one-fourth of all land in the U.S. For fiscal year 2007, the government valued its land holdings only at about $1 trillion – but that includes a zero-dollar valuation for much of the acreage because it was never "purchased." The national debt is approximately $14 trillion. The proceeds from sales/mortgages/leases will fund our current and near-term liabilities and, with other changes, could eliminate our debt.

II. Social Security. Workers below the age of 55 shall have the option of placing their retirement contributions in private savings accounts.

III. Medicare. Health care needs of those below the age of 55 shall be addressed with individual, tax-free health savings accounts. From these accounts, people can purchase policies with high deductibles, as we do with auto insurance. Non-emergency matters will be paid for out-of-pocket from the accounts.

IV. Medicaid. Those currently on Medicaid must be grandfathered in, but by a date certain, all federal welfare payments will stop. The needs of the needy will be handled by the states and/or by the unparalleled generosity of the American people.

V. Eliminate, privatize, outsource or sell/lease many federal activities. These include, but are not limited to, Amtrak; the Tennessee Valley Authority; government-operated dams and nuclear power plants; the federal student aid grants and loans; public housing; the Food and Drug Administration; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the departments of Energy, Education, and Housing and Urban Development; the Environmental Protection Agency; Freddie Mac; Fannie Mae; the National Institutes of Health; and the Federal Housing Administration.

VI. Repeal laws that violate the principle of federalism, such as wage and hour laws; federal minimum wage; the Clean Air Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; equal pay laws; the Davis-Bacon Act (mandating prevailing union wages for those working under federal contracts); and all federal anti-discrimination laws that apply to the private sector.

VII. Taxes. Eliminate income, corporate, capital gains, dividend and estate taxes. Given the reduced size of government, the limited duties of the federal government as described in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution will be funded, as the Founding Fathers envisioned, with duties and tariffs.

This would supercharge the economy. Any takers?

---

Per WND's bio-in-brief: "Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com."

Part II - Additional Information with More MHProNews Analysis and Commentary

Larry Elder's flashback to a pitch he made in 2010 reveals that Trump's concepts are hardly new. What makes the Trump 2.0 (a.k.a.: T2) economic policies unique is that they are now similar to much what President Trump has been saying both before and since the 2024 election.

Trump has said he would like to eliminate the income tax and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) replacing it instead with an "External Revenue Service."

Both of these posts have videos visible on X.

🚨 "HOW ABOUT JUST NO TAX!"

Trump proposes eliminating ALL Income Tax and Replacing with Tarriffs pic.twitter.com/826G5yFQh9
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) January" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/OcrazioCor... 25, 2025

So this happened yesterday. Unbelievable.

Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, said Trump wants to abolish the IRS and let all outsiders pay.

Can you imagine keeping all the money you earn? pic.twitter.com/1ze4dRdCIM
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) February" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/atensnut/s... 20, 2025

When the U.S.A. funded its federal budget mainly with tariffs and generally stayed out of foreign wars, the federal debt was low. But when President Woodrow Wilson (D), deemed a "progressive," advanced the income tax, made other changes in federal governmental policies, and led the U.S. into World War I, a series of changes began that led to the sky-high debts, human and economic cost we experience today. If Trump succeeds in reigning in big government and fostering peace it could be historic for the 99 percent of Americans.

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

https://patch.com/florida/lake...

https://patch.com/florida/lake...

There are common sense reasons to think that if Trump succeeds in eliminating the personal income tax on citizens that economic productivity will surge. Just one obvious reason is that the time wasted on doing personal income taxes every year will be freed up for other purporses. Billions of hours, per the Tax Foundation, is lost every year just doing tax forms and related paperwork.

If Trump 2.0 is successful in ending the personal income tax, it could indeed cause a surge in personal wealth for millions of Americans.

Other topics follow. Thanks for checking in.

> Southwest border apprehensions drop by 85%, at ports of entry by 93%

> Is Sanity Returning to Issues Related to Men in Women's Sports?

> Chinese Spy Cases Up After 176,000 Chinese Enter U.S. Illegally

> Employees! It is ‘Not Free Market Capitalism It’s Corporate Feudalism’

> U-Haul and North American's Moving Research-Top States for In and Out

---

> HUD Sec Turner-'Corporate Takeover of Housing—A Manufactured Crisis'

> Romano-U.S. Trade War with Mexico and Canada Lasted 1 Day. Trump Won.

> Urge Senate to Work 7 Days a Week Until Trump's Cabinet is Confirmed!

> ‘Endemic Mismanagement of HUD Manufactured Housing Program’ Nom Turner

'Restoring and Expanding Affordable Housing Role of Manufactured Homes'–MHARR Letter Cites 2000 Reform Act, "Enhanced Preemption" Much More...https://patch.com/florida/lake...

> Big Govt, Big Pharma, Big Food made Americans Overweight and Unhealthy

> Virginia Bishop for ‘Well-Regulated Borders’ Amid VP J.D. Vance Rumble

> Romano-Trump Bans DEI In Federal Govt—States And Corporations Are Next

> How Republicans Should Follow Through on Tough Talk on Immigration

> NPR=87 Registered Democrats in Editorial Positions and No Republicans

---

> President Donald J. Trump’s Official 'America First Priorities'

> Rubio Senate Replacement Ashley Moody (FL-R) Gets Key Assignments

> Trump Plan: Make America Safe, Affordable, Restore U.S. Values for All

> NPR=87 Registered Democrats in Editorial Positions and No Republicans

---

> Official Manufactured Housing Production from 1995-2023-Why it Matters

> Anna Paulina Luna (FL-R) and Barry Loudermilk (GA-R) MERIT Act Insight

> Executive Orders on Investigating Biden Censorship & Weaponization

> Floridian Dr István Dobozi Strikes at Trump Again in Magyar Article (Another critical analysis - fact check).

---

> Why do Liars Lie? Why do those Engaged in Paltering and Spin Palter?

> Controversy-Manufactured Housing Institute-Lesli Gooch-Mark Bowersox

> ‘Mobile Home Values Rising Faster Than Single-Family’ House-Wow Fact$

> Realtor-What Is a Manufactured Home? The Next Step Beyond Mobile Homes

> Orlando RE Agent Smith-Younger Adults Will Need $8500 Monthly for Rent

---

> Rob Romano-Time To Declassify Everything, Or Another RussiaGate Ahead

> Contemporary Tips from Legend Paul Harvey-Surprising Rest of the Story

> Alert: Is Affordable Housing Linked Scandal at Champion Homes Brewing?

> Report: Biden-Harris Federal Agencies Spent Millions Torturing Cats

> Lesli Gooch Ph.D.-Award, Coverup, Headfake, Scandal? Rest of the Story (Manufactured Housing Institute linked)

---

> ALG Unpacks Trump Pitch to Cut Drug Costs by Cutting PBM Middleman

> Is there Evidence that God Exists? Evolution vs. Intelligent Design

> Democratic Voters-Closer Look at Biden’s Acts Before Biden-Harris Exit

> Christian Leaders-Signs of 4th 'Great Awakening' Millions go to Jesus

> Attorney John Morgan - Democrat Megadonor on Kamala Harris Campaign

---

> USA Today - David Plouffe and Dem Advisers on Kamala Harris Revelation

> Majority OK Trump Transition-Mass Deportations-Tariffs- Is it Hopeful?

> Niskanen Center Praises Manufactured Home ‘Cost Savings’ and ‘Quality’

> Alice Carter-The Northern Forum-Deporting Immigrants & Housing Crisis

> Cartoons-Kamala Day 1, DOGE the Swamp, Brainwashing, & Out In the Cold

---

> The Creepy Line-Peter Schweizer-Dr. Jordan Peterson-Dr. Robert Epstein

> Secret State Miniseries - Fictional TV Series Shed Light on Reality

> Trump Transition Team Asked to Prioritize Affordable Housing Issues

> Top 10 States for Homelessness & Top Cities for Crime=Shocking Lessons

> WashPost-American Dream Fades But Assoc CEO Mark Weiss Shows Solution

---

> Blankley-Goodbye American Dream? Only 10% Polled Can Buy a House; But

> Frank Rolfe-Special Interests ‘Don’t Want to Solve Affordable Housing'

> TARK-‘I’m a Teen and Know the Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis’

---> Renting? Rent too High? Odds Are DOJ Suit vs RealPage Matters to You

> New-Certified “Half Price Homes” - Affordable Housing Solution Redux

---

> Solution: “Would-Be Homebuyers Need 80% More Income Than 4 Years Ago”

L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###