To anyone with a grasp of logic, the term “freeloader” refers to someone who has the ability to care for themselves, yet due to opportunity, has their needs taken care of by someone else.

As Red State reports, California Governor Jerry Brown uses the term in a very, very different manner — he somehow thinks the “someone else” is the freeloader:

In response to the outrage of taxpayers who were blindsided by the massive increase and those supporting the recall of Newman, Brown took a less than sympathetic tone. “The freeloaders — I’ve had enough of them,” Brown said, adding that the approved tax and fee hikes bring those charges to the level they were 30 years ago if adjusted for inflation. “They have a president that doesn’t tell the truth and they’re following suit.” Newman will have campaign resources to prevail in a recall should the measure qualify for the ballot, Brown said. “He’ll have whatever he needs,” he said. Let’s review this statement, in case you’re having trouble interpreting his meaning. If you work and pay taxes, if you struggle to pay your most basic bills while “owing” the California government a third of your paycheck (or more), Jerry Brown thinks you’re a freeloader. The 1,000,000 citizens in Los Angeles county alone who collect food stamps provided by taxpayers are not freeloaders. The millions of illegal immigrants being harbored in California’s sanctuary cities to the cost of taxpayers are not freeloaders. Illegal immigrants being provided “free” legal help by the state on the backs of taxpayers are not freeloaders. The bloodsuckers in the Sacramento legislature who get paid $178 a day in per diem funds on top of their bloated salaries just for walking in the door to their job every day are not freeloaders. No, you — the burdened, law-abiding taxpayer are the freeloader for simply asking the government of California be more fiscally responsible with the money they already have instead of stealing more of your money without your consent to pay for programs that are already funded but have been raided for pet projects and personal enrichment.

Red State editor Kira Davis’s surprise at taxpayers being called “freeloaders” is shared by others. I hear Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Taxpayers are not freeloaders. They’re paying for what they get. Davis points out the real freeloaders in California, and that includes Brown and his cronies in Sacramento, blowing money they didn’t earn.

This harkens to a deeper problem. Brown clearly believes these increased taxes as his to take, that the government is subjectively entitled to as much of your earnings as it deems fit, and that demanding to keep more of it is somehow the same as demanding something for nothing. He called it freeloading because, in his progressive mind, that’s apparently what it is. It’s as if California taxpayers who want to keep their money are really wanting to keep California’s money.

It’s the taxpayer’s money. That’s why they’re called “taxpayers” and not “serfs.” And Brown only serves with the consent of the governed.