So, Donald J. Trump has just proposed scrapping income tax yes, abolishing it and replacing it with tariffs. Bold. Revolutionary. About as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake.

Let’s break this down like a Wall Street trader dissecting his avocado toast budget.

GDP: The Wild Stallion

Imagine GDP as a wild stallion, galloping majestically through the rolling hills of capitalism. Removing income tax is like cutting the bridle, hoping the horse will now run faster because… freedom.

The theory? Less tax means more money in people’s pockets, spurring spending, investment, and growth. The reality? Enter tariffs the economic equivalent of putting toll booths every 10 meters on the racetrack.

Sure, you’ve cut the horse loose, but now it has to pay a fee every time it takes a step. Imports become pricier, domestic goods follow suit, and suddenly the “galloping GDP” looks more like a tired donkey dragging a cart full of overpriced bananas.

The outcome? GDP might spike briefly like that friend who starts a gym routine but quits after a week before slowing down as trade wars brew, prices climb, and global partners start side-eyeing the U.S. like it’s a guest who just flipped the Monopoly board.

Per Capita Income: The Golden Fork Dilemma

Now, let’s talk per capita income. Imagine an average American let’s call him Chad strolling through Whole Foods, eyeing organic kale and cruelty-free quinoa. Chad, thrilled by the income tax cut, thinks he’s now rolling in it.

No more deductions? No IRS breathing down his neck? More money for oat milk lattes!

But wait tariffs hit. Suddenly, those imported Italian shoes cost double. The phone Chad planned to upgrade? Now it’s priced like a small car. Even the quinoa which somehow always comes from “somewhere exotic” costs 40% more.

So yes, on paper, Chad’s income looks larger but in practice, he’s still broke. His golden fork now stabs a very empty plate.

The only winners? Corporations that can push the cost onto consumers, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat except the rabbit is the bill, and the hat is Chad’s wallet.

Economic Growth and Development: The Unicycle with Square Wheels

Finally, let’s talk economic growth the Holy Grail of every politician’s speech.

Think of the U.S. economy as a garden. Traditionally, income tax is the water — flowing (sometimes inconsistently) to public services, infrastructure, and education. Trump, however, seems to believe tariffs will rain down prosperity.

The problem? Rain dances don’t work.

Without income tax, how will the government pay for roads, schools, and those shiny military jets? Tariffs? Please. That’s like watering your garden with a leaky bottle of sparkling water. The Kansas experiment — where massive tax cuts left the state scrambling for funds — should serve as a giant, flashing caution sign.

Investors might initially cheer — Wall Street loves a good shake-up — but once they realize that the roads to their beach houses are full of potholes and public schools can’t afford Wi-Fi, the mood might shift faster than Bitcoin’s price on a bad day.

The Bottom Line

So what happens when you abolish income tax and bet the farm on tariffs?

• GDP might lurch forward, briefly before the wheels come off.

• Per capita income looks good on paper but feels like Monopoly money in practice.

• Economic growth? Imagine a unicycle with square wheels: interesting to watch but absolutely useless for going anywhere.

In short: it’s bold. It’s chaotic. It’s pure, unfiltered Trump.

The real question is — will the economy ride off into the sunset like a cowboy in a spaghetti western… or crash spectacularly like a Jeremy Clarkson car stunt gone horribly wrong?