I think it is response to 2008 crash, where consumers were blamed for buying houses. "those stupid consumers, why did they buy houses with the home loans we gave them, it's their fault".

Since 2008, this has become a more common refrain from the right, that consumers are to blame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-Jw-5Kx8k https://www.cnbc.com/2014/02/24/5-years-later-rick-santelli-...