[AnimalMuppet]

But it wasn't going to be taken out of the hands of the rich to pay for this. It was going to come from a VAT, and from existing welfare. But existing welfare is taking it from the poor, and the VAT is taking it from businesses and people who buy stuff. It's largely not coming from the rich. So even by your second paragraph, it's unclear that this is going to cause actual growth.

[beat]

Think about the math. Is a VAT actually going to take a third of the income of the average wage earner? No, no it will not.

[AnimalMuppet]

Where did "a third" come from? Why that number? Why do you think that number is relevant?

And why do you think it answers anything I have said?

[beat]

I'm round-numbering. Median individual income in the US is a bit over $30k, adding $12k to that is roughly a third.

And your claim, which is nonsense, is that the VAT will eat 100% of that $12k.

[AnimalMuppet]

That is not at all my claim. My claim is that doing this may not grow the economy as a whole. Someone making median income or (especially) less may well benefit; I do not claim that they won't.