I think they were drawing a comparison to how people tell you to deal with "friends" who are toxic/self-centered/variegated-addict types.

You know, cause all your friends are poor, so it's okay to cut them off. But when a billionaire begs for money and you tell them no, suddenly it's all "so you're trying to hurt the economy?!"

...the economy has already been grievously wounded... by the billionaires.