The wealthy benefit more from government than do the poor. Exhibit A:

[Scuba]

[rhett o rick]

1. I am currently reading "The Irony of Democracy" by Thomas R. Dye.

In it he describes the Elite Theory as it applies to American government. Elitism puts forth that all societies are divided into the few who govern (elite) and the many that are governed (masses). The best that the masses can hope for is to scare the elite into throw us a bone.

[Pab Sungenis]

2. Unfortunately

the Constitution specifically bans export tariffs.

[Scuba]

3. There's plenty of ways to levy taxes.

[Pab Sungenis]

4. But not all are constitutional.

Export tariffs are explicitly forbidden in Article I.

[Scuba]

5. What's your point? Just raise the corporate income tax.

Would it perfectly mimic the cost of protecting trade (import AND export)? No, but no tax is perfectly fair.

[Egalitarian Thug]

6. It has been thus since the beginning of the nation. The slave trade, the railroads, oil, and so on.

The government was turned into an enforcer for the rich about 5 minutes after it was formed and it's gotten worse and worse ever since.