ArcaMax

Trust me when I say that a home on Indian Creek Island is not for you.

First of all, you're not a billionaire. But even a billion bucks wouldn't buy your way onto this island in Florida's Biscayne Bay. It's the exclusive domain of such multi-multi-billionaires as Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Ivanka Trump ... and now Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook and Instagram.

Mark, nicknamed "Zuck," has just paid $170 million for a piece of this very special speck of turf, including a "cottage" with 9 bedrooms, 11 baths, a gym, a massage room and a 1,500-gallon aquarium. Also, he built his own personal hair salon, plus a library with -- get this -- a secret passageway. No clue as to whether he reads any books, or just uses the passage to escape.

Secondly, you wouldn't really be happy on Indian Creek Island, because it's a pretentious fake. This high-value enclave was constructed for low-value hucksters who've amassed outrageous fortunes by screwing over masses of workers, competitors, taxpayers and others. Even the "island" is fake -- it's a man-made landfill built in the Bay so ten very, very rich swells can isolate themselves from us commoners. Also, it's more of a doomsday compound than a community, with each of the uber-rich hunkered down in what's been dubbed "Billionaire Bunker."

These demigods of gross inequality can buy any piece of paradise, but then they're so spooked they lock themselves behind $170-million walls, afraid of their own shadows. So, here's my free advice to Zuck to soothe his plutocratic trepidations: Steal a little less, practice being slightly likable, maybe downsize to only a $70 million mansion ... and live more. You're welcome.

LET'S STOP DEMONIZING DEI and START ACHIEVING IT

At last, someone with some common sense in their head, some basic humanity in their heart and some fundamental democratic values in their soul -- is speaking out.

Many someones, actually. Indeed, a coalition of dozens of progressive groups representing millions of Americans is uniting in straightforward populist opposition to the far-out right wing's loopy assault on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Bizarrely, President Donald Trump's menagerie of extremist Republican politicos has been waging a furious war against these basic egalitarian ideals, trying to turn DEI into a partisan bugaboo. That's goofy and ultimately self-defeating, for they are asking voters to reject their lifelong admiration for these positive social goals. Consider the value of D, E and I:

One, diversity. That's "us," the marvelous mix of common people, cultures and beliefs that gives America vitality and resilience.

Two, equity. That's just another word for "fairness," so why do they want to demonize that?

Three, inclusion. Hello -- that's what "democracy" means -- we all belong and our voice matters.

Yet, the Trumpians are using brute authoritarianism to try to rip these core democratic values out of the fabric of our society. And, pathetically, many major corporate powers, universities, media outlets and other institutions that ought to stand against these Orwellian dictates have pusillanimously capitulated, hoping the GOP's imperious regime will reward them with financial favors.

When institutions fail the people, We the People have to rise up. That's the momentous rallying cry of some 70 nationwide groups of gutsy democracy fighters organized by Color of Change to stand up for the invaluable Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that make America ... America! To connect, go to ColorOfChange.org.

To find out more about Jim Hightower and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators webpage at www.creators.com.

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