A rising tide lifts all boats.
What about boats that are anchored or moored?
What about boats that are anchored or moored?
It seems like you don't understand the metaphor unless you each mean to imply that The Economy goes through frequent regular cycles of significant expansion and contraction where every expansion reaches a consistent, predictable high point before contraction brings it back down to a consistent predictable low point.
But it can still accurately represent the people who are "left behind" in the economy. You cannot just say "Ah yes, the tide is going up. Therefor everyone is safe and dry in their boats as they rise with the tide" as an excuse to ignore people who need help.
Well how else were you going to wash the sides down?