If you make an analogy, then have to explain the thing you are comparing the first thing with, what is the point of the analogy?
The explanation is about as redundant as a third wheel. You know, the awkward extra person tagging along with a couple on a date.
I don't think I worded my original post properly because I feel convinced already. I was just looking for a way to measure up the effects of this idea. If we are a country dependent on importing goods and we make them more expensive, it stands to reason that we either stop getting those goods (doesn't seem easy...) OR we just deal with the price, and that doesn't seem easy either.
I just thought this is odd... like if I wanted to propose a tax on bicycles, we could talk how many bicycles there are in the USA, if this would make sense, etc. but that's an actual discussion. Most of the people in this thread are just asserting it's a bad idea and either don't know the "why" themselves, or just don't want to say.