No. 23 · The Presidents
Benjamin Harrison
1889-1893
After passing the highest peacetime tariff up to that time – a massive 48% average in order to protect domestic industry – this rate increase proved counter-productive to the majority of American citizens. With some tariffs placed on items not even manufactured in the U.S., and therefore protecting no domestic business, the tariff simply increased consumer prices for all Americans.
Lyrics
Em, C, G, D
if I raise the tariffs, more and more will buy American
so if I raise them higher, we'll be rolling in the Benjamins
not named after me of course
I hope you'll see why after this
in war they say, raise the tariffs
but in peace, I say raise 'em higher
we'll get more money
we can spend on everybody
it's a perfect situation
just don't look at what you're paying
'cause tariffs make everything cost more
'cause it keeps the competition out of our doors
the Harrison family presidential legacy
William Henry dies a lot and then there's me
From the book, published 2009 · song & page updated
Raise 'em higher