Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is presented as a noble cause, but like so many utopian schemes, it delivers the opposite of what it promises. It does not unify; it divides. It does not empower; it fosters entitlement. It does not level the playing field; it tilts it to enforce ideological conformity. Worse, it revives the very discrimination it claims to fight, all under the guise of “equity.”

DEI advocates assume opposition comes from ignorance rather than principle, dismissing critics as uninformed. The truth? Many of us reject DEI precisely because we understand it all too well. It is not about fairness or opportunity but about imposing rigid identity politics. If discomfort exists, it’s not because DEI is misunderstood — it’s because its defenders cannot justify a system that openly discriminates while claiming to fight discrimination. All they have to offer are woke platitudes and hollow emotional appeals.

DEI thrives on the victim-oppressor narrative of cultural Marxism, insisting America is irredeemably racist and that the only solution is perpetual guilt, reparations and social engineering. It rejects Dr. King’s vision of judging people by character, demanding instead that we fixate on race, gender and identity.

This toxic ideology is clothed in a fundamental hypocrisy. Diversity once meant a mix of perspectives, but in DEI, it’s racial bean-counting. Equity used to mean fairness, but now it demands equal outcomes — a Marxist fantasy that punishes achievement. Inclusion sounds positive, but in practice, it silences dissent. Real inclusion requires a commitment to free speech.

But DEI is in retreat. Earlier this month, the Scottsdale City Council voted to eliminate its DEI programs, mandating that city employees be hired, evaluated and promoted based on merit. Fortunately, Fountain Hills has avoided DEI programs. Common sense prevails. Let’s keep it that way!

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