DC's Occupiers attract real rats

By Ethel C. Fenig

It seems rats -- real ones -- have, as Annie Gowen the Washington Post bluntly puts it "City: Rat population has 'exploded' around Occupy D.C. camps":

The rat population around the two Occupy D.C. camps at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza has "exploded"since protesters began their vigil in October, according to Mohammad N. Akhter, the director of the District's Department of Health.

Akhter said in an interview Monday that city health inspectors have seen rats running openly through both camps and spotted numerous new burrows and nests underneath hay-stuffed pallets occupiers are using for beds.

Well yeah, these things do happen when people don't clean up after themselves. So now the boring taxpayers will have to pay to do this basic but essential task for people who are probably accustomed to having mommy and/or the maid do it; the occupiers are certainly too important to be bothered by such mundane concerns.

Akhter, originally from Pakistan, believes

that the situation in the two parks is reminiscent of refu足gee camps he has toured overseas in the Middle East and Africa during his public health career. He said he fears disaster could strike during a severe winter storm.

"Going down to these camps, it's no different than refu足gee camps," Akhter said. "People are living in very primitive conditions and they're doing it by choice.

But he also described the rat attracting people as "very brave and thoughtful people."

Huh? Living with rats, or having a lifestyle encouraging their proliferation is dumb and selfish--a perfect capsule explanation of the occupiers.