Before 1913, America funded itself primarily through tariffs, not income taxes. This distinction isn’t merely about revenue collection—it represents fundamentally different relationships between citizens and government. Income tax directly claims ownership over portions of your labor, while tariffs apply only to specific voluntary transactions. President Trump’s 2025 tariff policies reflect views he’s consistently held since appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s show in 1988 as a Democrat, highlighting how tariffs were traditionally supported by Democrats throughout much of American history. Our founders deliberately chose this taxation model to preserve liberty and limit government growth—principles worth reconsidering in today’s debates about taxation and freedom.