Yes, tariffs are a tax, but people don't mention often enough that they are a regressive tax. Taxes on consumer goods tax the poor at a higher rate, as basic necessities are a much larger part of their spending.
If food goes up by 20%, it is a tax on the poor. Rich people won't even notice.
![portraits of frustrated stone and smiling robotnik in the background, with two full body designs for stone and robotnik
DR. IVO ROBOTNIK: CEO of Robotnik Industries, scientist, inventor. Works with both the government and private companies to fund his research in exchange for military augmentations, weapons and battle robots. A genius, but is awfully bad at social interactions. Prefers the company of his drones and his Chief of Security. Partly augmented: has cranium augs (hacking, tech control, infolink+cochlear and subvocal implants), immune to social and hormonal enhancers, but can't use them himself, eyes augmentations (tracking, smart vision+wall-piercing vision, retinal prosthesis, HUD, flash-suppresant, radar, topograph, vision and noise feedback) and augmented his arms up to the elbow. His body requires more neuropozyne to adapt to the augmentations.
[DATA EXPUNGED] STONE: Chief of Security in Robotnik Industries, Ivo's personal assistant and bodyguard. Ex-military, ex-CIA. Had his first name wiped off the official records in exchange for his silence about their operation (the assassination attempt on him failed, so they had no choice). Has several degrees, including a barista certificate, has exceptional training in covert ops, field ops and social engineering. Fully augmented (cranium, eyes, social enhancers, arms, legs, heart, lungs, muscles, spine, built-in weaponry) by Dr. Robotnik himself; all of the augmentations are top of the line and are constantly being upgraded by Dr. Robotnik. Requires significantly less neuropozyne than the average human.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:c2fo3dlioe6abmr7ptie6d4z/bafkreibnw5i6cx6mzuax6xar5nhrftjo2uifiyio673ikbi4vy4qtiqf3e)
