ArcaMax

Don't let it be said that the superrich care only about themselves, always taking from society and giving nothing back.

Consider the generous billionaires who live on an island in Florida's Biscayne Bay. Amazon kingpin Jeff Bezos lives there, as do Ivanka Trump and her hubby, Jared Kushner. Actually, their so-called island is fake, built in the bay so a few dozen absurdly rich sparklies don't have to mix with commoners living in the adjacent town of Surfside.

Snootiness aside, the billionaires have literally been giving "of themselves" to Surfside's people. Specifically, their bodily waste has long been leaking from the septic systems of their mansions, polluting the town's environment. Yes, the rich are actually defecating on commoners.

Facing public scorn, the Bezos-Trump-Kushner clan proposed piping their excrement into Surfside's sewer system. Okay, but when the city asked for $10 million to help cover the pipe's cost, the billionaires squealed like stuck hogs!

Come on! 10 million for them is like 10 dollars for you and me. Of course, moneyed elites didn't get rich by playing fair, but by playing the system. So, they dispatched their lobbyists and lawyers to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Sure enough -- BAM! -- Republican officials suddenly and secretly approved a new state provision decreeing that local communities like Surfside cannot interfere with or even demand payment for such special-interest sewer projects as the Bezos-Trump-Kushner hookup. Then, again with no publicity, DeSantis signed the billionaires' corrupt law -- no doubt assured that they would reward his kindness later on.

Ironically, the word "defecate" is derived from a Latin verb meaning "to cleanse." But there's not enough soap in Florida to clean the hands of these dirty dealers.

EVEN THE SMALLEST DOG CAN LIFT ITS LEG ON THE TALLEST BUILDING

In these days of domineering corporate rule, where can we commoners go to find even a little bit of justice?

Right where they've been found throughout human history: Within ourselves. Specifically, in our rebellious spirit, our willingness to confront the greedheads and boneheads who feel entitled to run roughshod over us.

For example, The Formosa Four.

You probably haven't heard of them, since the mass media powers don't cover something as consequential and uplifting as a nation of Davids challenging Goliath -- such as "The Formosa Four." They are members of a tenacious and scrappy coalition that has dared to confront one of the most flagrant corporate criminals on the globe: Formosa Plastics. It's a $6 billion-a-year profiteer that constantly and carelessly spews millions of tons of plastic contaminants into our environment and ourselves.

But last summer, the bully tried to play victim. When about 70 protestors defiantly converged on Formosa's U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, corporate executives had four of the leaders arrested and charged with criminal trespass -- a power play to prevent free speech and scare off future protestors.

Yes, a global behemoth that's a deadly polluter and serial human rights violator had our government arrest and prosecute grassroots critics for the "high crime" of trespassing. Such is the pettiness -- but liberty-busting seriousness -- of today's arrogant forces of plutocracy.

Justice fighters, though, aren't easily spooked by bullies, and the movement succeeded last week in having all charges dismissed. As one protester said, it takes "regular people putting their bodies on the line to make these things happen. One victory today, and many more in the future." For more information, go to Formosa4.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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