According to the leftists who dominate politics in Austin, Texas, it is outrageously offensive to tell young people to get an education and a job, and “do something useful and produce something in your society so you don’t have to live off others.”

During Austin’s Thursday City Council meeting many students spoke up from several city-funded groups asking for continued support. It was what Austin City Council member Don Zimmerman said after the group of students addressed the council in Spanish that is sparking a lot of reaction on Twitter. The students were asking for funds to help their after-school program. I’d ask for everyone here, including the children, when you grow up, I want to ask you to pledge to finish school, learn a trade, a skilled trade, get a college education, start a business, do something useful and produce something in your society so you don’t have to live off others. Thank you.” Zimmerman said. Shortly after he made this comment boos could be heard reverberating throughout the audience. Council member Delia Garza spoke an estimated two hours later saying, “Earlier council [member] Zimmerman said something that was really offensive and it happened really quickly and now I’m hearing from members of our community that they are disappointed that more of us didn’t stand up and say something. And I want our community to know that we do not condone what he said. And we have your back.” A 20-second applause followed Garza’s statement.

The fact that Zimmerman’s advice followed a group of Hispanics speaking and asking for taxpayer money is being used to claim he is racist. But in fact, Zimmerman has said similar things to other groups, and that demonstrates that he is not.

What really seems to be at the heart of the outrage is reflected in this tweet from a Hispanic city council member:

@ndhapple @cbrendonriggs it was worse than that. he implied that those that rely on, & ask for, public programs are nonproductive citizens. — Gregorio Casar (@GregCasar) August 19, 2016

I am sorry to break it to Mr. Garza, but those who live off the work of others are not productive; they are parasitical. Some parasites are very benign. After all, we all started off as helpless babies and then children, who cannot provide for themselves. That is a natural thing, for in nature, creatures mature and provide for themselves, and eventually for others – the children that they produce, and their parents when they are no longer able to provide.

But creatures that are fully capable of providing for themselves but make choices that keep them dependent on extracting wealth from wealth-producers (via the government tax collectors) are not productive. Not until they get it together enough to take care of themselves.

Let’s not pretend otherwise.

Hat tip: David Paulin