# Classist Wall Street occupiers refuse to share food, bridge gaps with marginalized homeless **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 27, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956 "2011-10-27T12:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/1 "2011-10-27T12:22:52Z")
the OWS kitchen staff are resisting the efforts of the most vulnerable to better their diet and redress past inequities, as classism rears its ugly head. Through ruthless propaganda at the street hall meetings these privileged few have prevailed on the broad masses of occupiers to vote against the principles of equity and social justice by further marginalizing the bologna-less homeless and consigning them to soup kitchens for the poor. An Obama administration official had this to say: > [@](#): > > During these trying times it is paramount for the homeless, smelly and violently thuggish Americans to receive fair treatment, equally with the never-do-well useless librat Americans. The jobless Columbia U graduates who were dumb enough to accumulate $100K in debts to pay for degrees in getting to nowhere should own up to the privilege they have enjoyed in being able to camp much less molested than could be expected in the middle of the vibrant Manhattan community, just a short train ride from the heart of the underprivileged inner city neighborhoods of outlying Manhattan and Bronx. Indeed, they have also enjoyed the great educational privileges dependent heavily on the community’s not mugging and raping them on their way to class. It is unconscionable, then, for these non-diverse non-productive non-taxpayers to refuse to share the good food with all God’s children in New York City. The Justice Department will monitor the food distribution process and will consider suing in the event of further illegal exclusionary activities by the Bologna Party. From the [original article](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/zuccotti_hell_kitchen_i5biNyYYhpa8MSYIL9xSDL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=): > [@](#): > > Occupy Wall Street kitchen staff protesting fixing food for freeloaders > > The Occupy Wall Street volunteer kitchen staff launched a “counter” revolution yesterday – because they’re angry about working 18-hour days to provide food for “professional homeless” people and ex-cons masquerading as protesters. > > For three days beginning tomorrow, the cooks will serve only brown rice and other spartan grub instead of the usual menu of organic chicken and vegetables, spaghetti bolognese, and roasted beet and sheep’s-milk-cheese salad. > > They will also provide directions to local soup kitchens for the vagrants, criminals and other freeloaders who have been descending on Zuccotti Park in increasing numbers every day. > > To show they mean business, the kitchen staff refused to serve any food for two hours yesterday in order to meet with organizers to air their grievances, sources said. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/2 "2011-10-27T12:54:06Z")
They’re running a protest, not a charity. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/3 "2011-10-27T13:01:42Z")
Whoa dude you have officially blown my mind. I guess everyone who support OWS is wrong, then! And shit. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/4 "2011-10-27T13:03:19Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> GD. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/5 "2011-10-27T13:10:17Z")
The New York Post? Really? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/6 "2011-10-27T13:12:30Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > An Obama administration official had this to say I googled a phrase from your quote and found only this thread. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/7 "2011-10-27T13:15:28Z")
I blame Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/8 "2011-10-27T13:17:33Z")
This is the break the McCain campaign has been waiting for. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/9 "2011-10-27T13:18:37Z")
I would never have thought the OWS had an “official kitchen” providing free food to protesters. Where do the ingredients come from? Presumably someone is paying for it at some point ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/10 "2011-10-27T13:18:51Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I googled a phrase from your quote and found only this thread. It’s “parody”. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/11 "2011-10-27T13:19:34Z")
I hear that the protestors are also not adopting orphans and caring for lepers. Clearly they hate children and sick people too. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/12 "2011-10-27T13:27:39Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I would never have thought the OWS had an “official kitchen” providing free food to protesters. Where do the ingredients come from? Presumably someone is paying for it at some point Mostly donations. See this article for some information. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/13 "2011-10-27T13:32:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s “parody”. It’s kind and generous people like you that keep me coming back here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/14 "2011-10-27T13:35:59Z")
The WSJ has a good short editorial today along these same lines. One tidbit–several drummers were complaining about a 50% “percussion tax” on their tips. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/15 "2011-10-27T13:46:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Mostly donations. See this article for some information. And some of the protestors have appointed themselves/volunteered as “kitchen staff”? If anyone’s working an 18 hour day, sounds like they need to call for more contributions from the unwashed masses. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/16 "2011-10-27T13:51:45Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I would never have thought the OWS had an “official kitchen” providing free food to protesters. Where do the ingredients come from? Presumably someone is paying for it at some point Corporate America. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/17 "2011-10-27T13:57:14Z")
Valid thread topic (example): The OWA protest confronts seeming contradiction in its goals and positions when the homeless seek to participate in the food being procured and prepared for the protesters. I think that’s a fair commentary on the tension between the apparent goals of the movement and… well… reality. Invalid tactic: > [@](#): > > During these trying times it is paramount for the homeless, smelly and violently thuggish Americans to receive fair treatment… “Hilarious.” (sarcastic smiley), and an example of content-free ranting, not debate. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/18 "2011-10-27T14:00:17Z")
[Here](http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-kitchen-denies-starving-out-vagrants/44200/)’s an article from The Atlantic Wire responding to the New York Post article. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/19 "2011-10-27T14:21:59Z")
The OP quoted a large portion of the Post article, and I’ve shortened that quote in keeping with our fair use guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956/20 "2011-10-27T14:44:50Z")
While the OP went about in the absolute worst way possible, I actually agree with him. The OWS protestors should be showing the world they are all about helping the 99%, the entire 99%, and if that means buying cheaper food or gathering more donations, then so be it. Besides that, there’s an easy fix to this. Hand out food coupons at certain times of the day and if you’re not on hand to get a coupon then you don’t eat. That’ll weed out all but the most determined freeloaders. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classist-wall-street-occupiers-refuse-to-share-food-bridge-gaps-with-marginalized-homeless/600956.md?page=2)