Question

Would you support the federal or state government? Can you come up with a similar example where there has been a conflict between state and federal government?

Answer 1

Protectionist policies always end up hurting the economy more than helping it: on the country imposing it and the country upon which it is imposed. For the subsequent reasons, I would unhesitatingly reject a proposed tariff. Let's pretend that Congress enacts a 45% tariff on textiles tomorrow for the purpose of 'protecting' nascent textile companies here in the United States. What this scenario would do is provide an incentive for the aforementioned companies to raise their prices by as much as 44%. They can do this because their is no competition from abroad to keep their prices low and efficient for the consumer and it would be in their interest to make as much money as possible in as quick a time period as possible; as well as the fact that the consumer will still be paying less here than if he were to buy from there. What this would do is cause multiple effects, domestically and internationally:

Domestically:
Consumers would have to compensate for this price increase by either buying less of the commodity in question, in this case textiles, so they can continue purchasing other commodities; or buy less of other commodities so that they can continue buying the commodity in question. If consumers purchase less, then it will inevitably lead to a decline in production of goods: If the company is going to sell less goods, then it would be in their interest to produce less insofar as it will save them money. The decline in the production of goods inevitably leads to job losses: If a company is going to produce less, then it will have to cut jobs in order to keep efficient in saving money. If this trend continues, then it will lead to the decline of the company in question and eventually, the entire industry. Furthermore, if the industry declines,then, in part at least, it will cause the economy to decline. It can be proven that tariffs destroy nascent domestic companies and economies rather than help them, and that the costs of the same outweigh any benefits that can be provided by the same.

Internationally:
The country, or countries, involved with the importation of the commodity in question will lose a market in the United States, of course. This will lead to the contraction in the intercourse between the aforementioned and the United States: If the commodity is going to be sold at a higher price than market price, then it will lose demand in the same market. If it is sold less, then production of the same will deteriorate in the interest of saving money. If production decreases, then jobs will be cut in order to save money further. This will lead to the deterioration of the jobs invested in the foreign country and the industry partly, but not necessarily in it's domestic country. There is also the possibility of a tariff imposed on the original country in retaliation.
As for examples of conflict, there was the Dallas Tariff of 1816 and the Abominable tariff of 1828; similar situations occurred in both whereby senators fought for the interests of their states against the federal government. In the latter example, South Carolina felt so strongly, that it almost seceded from the Union! I would hope that Congressman deter from their party at times to support local interests from states; next to the Constitution, therein lies their loyalty: they pledge to serve, protect, and defend the Constitution and promote the interests of their constituents, not their party.

Hope I helped! :)

Answer 2

HUMONGOUS HELP, THANK YOU!