[General] what is the meaning of "suck on the public teat"?

[mokbon]

Hi?

when I was reading this, i found something i can't understand..

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You can either suck on the public teat or influence the next presidential race, but you can't do both. Butt out for once and let the people choose the next president and Congress.

Read more: My Advice to the Occupy Wall Street Protesters | Politics News | Rolling Stone
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Does this mean "you do nothing but watch it"?

 

[iKitty]

NOT A TEACHER

What an ugly expression! But looking at the context, it refers to organisations that have been aided by Government (public) money, to help stop them collapsing. Sucking on the public teat is an image referring to breast-feeding a baby – the organisations have accepted money [milk] from the state [the mother].

 

[SoothingDave]

Not just organizations, individuals can also suck on the public teat. And the usual imagery is not of a mother with her infant, but of a gigantic sow with all her little piglets.