In contrast for example, the people who favor Trump's notions of good government can appear to be antithetical to study and philosophy. Rather, their one "reason" for expecting cooperation appears to be because they "can force you" to comply. They are not asking anyone to impose tariffs, they are giving the order that tariffs will be imposed. Such "analysis" as they have for the idea can be rudimentary to a fault. Why will tariffs work? Because they said so, because they "won" the election.
To understand how such a difference could develop between then and now take an in depth look at the purpose of government. Anyone interested in the purpose of the government of the United States can read a detailed list in the Preamble to the Constitution, " ... in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity ... "
Can the purpose of government be put in fewer words? Are there perhaps two words that imply all those things? In fact the purpose of government has been somewhat well described as simply "minimizing coercion." If one person tries to coerce another to perform some act or yield some belongings to another person, the government is charged with preventing that coercion. Toward that end, the government may use a unique power to coerce, forcing the offender to be detained, pay a fine, and in so far as possible make retribution. It should be understood that government should use such coercion as little as possible lest the government become the agent of unnecessary coercion.
A person might believe that the reason all the people who call for smaller government are directed by a "minimizing coercion" philosophy. Ironically though the Trump base can be most coercive. Why tariffs? Because they said so. Why can't you have an abortion? Because each state will simply make up some order you must obey. It needn't be based on anything but the whims of that particular state. The one and only reason is government force. It is not so much about smaller government as it is about there being no government to protect you from them.
A plausible explanation for many in the Trump base is their being in military service themselves, being older children of people in the military, or otherwise related to people in the military. Being in the military only requires following orders, especially at the lower ranks. It does not require extensive scholarship or philosophy. It does not require that the orders be understood, only that they be followed.
The problem in the world today then is that government, the purpose of which is to minimize coercion, is being run by a Trump base who cannot understand anything except coercion. If that is not irony enough then consider that violence can be a most inefficient means of obtaining cooperation. Although violence can readily change behavior, it does not as readily change minds. That is, although people might cooperate while a gun is held on them, as soon as it is not they will defy you. That could take quite many guns to enforce. In contrast, if minds are changed rather that just behavior, it is no longer necessary to stand over people.
One way a tariff might work is persuading people in other countries that the tariff will accomplish some purpose they can appreciate. A tariff is obviously not going to reduce measles, but if it could many people would approve of such a tariff. The reason tariffs will not work is that foreign countries are not seeing any such purpose. Trump's notion of fair and their notion of fair are in conflict, and there can be nothing but trouble from those tariffs.
There can be a temptation to use violence against the Trump base since it does not seem to be learning anything otherwise. That would be a terrible mistake. Many of them have long argued that reason is hopeless and violence is the one and only answer. If we turned to violence it would prove that right. They would say, "See, even you had to turn to violence." Rather, what we need to do is stand aside and let them run things. That way if they fail it is their own fault and they might finally see that it is.