October 11, 2025
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Deep Something

The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters

Politics

This category is a main category for post dealing with political issues and politicians at any level of government.

Legislature Society Gay Issues Right Wingnuts Hate Groups Politics 

Guardians of Morality-Can You Say “Glass House”

B. John 857 Views 0 Comments , , , ,

Moms for Liberty wants to save your children from books, drag queens, and anything with a rainbow. But maybe they should’ve checked their own guest list before handing out “medals of moral excellence.” South Carolina State Rep. RJ May, recently honored by the group, was arrested and charged with distributing child sex abuse material, including files showing himself engaged in sex acts with underage girls. Yes, you read that right. The man Moms for Liberty hailed as a protector of children was allegedly doing the exact thing he claimed to fight.

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Presidency Society Crack Pots Featured Featured Video Places Tampa Politics 

My Take on Tampa’s No Kings Day Protest

B. John 900 Views 0 Comments , , , , ,

On June?14, 2025, Tampa’s “No Kings Day” protest unfolded under blue skies outside City Hall. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people participated, joined by coordinated protests across Tampa Bay—ranging from Largo to St.?Petersburg—where similar crowds gathered. And here is my take. I saw proof: when people stand together, young and old, across every background, authoritarian theatrics shrink. It gave me hope. Tampa spoke with its numbers and its unity. And for me, that was worth the energy, bearing the heat, being there with them. In short, I think we had a lot more energy than the Birthday Parade in D.C.

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Crack Pots Featured Politics Presidency Religion Society Crime Corruption Methodism 

The Plan Is Working: Fear, Force, and the March Toward American Authoritarianism

B. John 125 Views 0 Comments , , , , ,

Of course, it’s all a coincidence. Marines are arresting civilians in Los Angeles. ICE raids are ripping families apart. Federal troops deployed without state consent. Political opponents detained. And now, a state legislator has been murdered. All part of the new normal. Nothing to see here. It’s just another week in the great American experiment.

This is not chaos. It’s choreography. What may seem like a string of shocking, disconnected headlines is actually an authoritarian blueprint unfolding in real-time. Donald Trump’s administration is not merely pushing legal boundaries but deliberately breaking them and testing the system. Daring anyone to stop him. Spoiler: No one has.

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pentecost witness
Tampa Politics Presidency Religion Society Gay Issues Methodism Featured Places 

No Kings Day: A Stand Against Power and Injustice

B. John 855 Views 0 Comments , , , , , ,

This Saturday, people will rise across 2,000 U.S. cities, including Tampa, united in one unflinching message: “No Kings.” This is not a protest born of idle dissent. It is a fierce rebuke of President Donald Trump and a social order built on abuse of power. Flag Day plus Trump’s 79th birthday equals a military parade costing taxpayers $25–45?million. The implicit message? A cult of personality masquerading as patriotism. For United Methodists grounded in Wesleyan conviction, this is intolerable. John and Charles Wesley stood against social evil, not in quiet tones but with prophetic boldness, calling out power when it crushes the least among us. That same courage calls us now to confront policies that tear at the fabric of our communities.

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Stoicism Culture Deep Thoughts Featured Politics Society Crack Pots 

Now That You Know: A Stoic Response to Injustice During Pride Month

B. John 964 Views 0 Comments , , ,

“You may choose to look away, but you can never again say you did not know.” —William Wilberforce There are moments in life when we are confronted with a clear, morally unambiguous truth that strips away all our comfortable illusions. Wilberforce’s words aren’t just a condemnation of apathy but an indictment of complicity. Once you’ve seen injustice, silence is no longer neutral. It’s a choice. Ancient Stoics would have understood this. For all their restraint and talk of inner calm, the Stoics were not spectators. They believed in moral clarity and civic virtue. To live a good life was not to retreat from the world but to meet it head-on—with courage, justice, and integrity.

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Harm to LGBTQ Community
Featured Politics Legislature Presidency Society Gay Issues 

How Trump-Era Policies and State Legislation Are Harming LGBTQ+ Americans

B. John 898 Views 0 Comments , , , , , ,

A recent Pew Research Center report (Feb. 2025) found that a staggering 81% of LGBTQ adults expect Trump’s policies to harm gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Among transgender respondents, 88% expect negative effects. These fears are grounded in experience: during his first term, Trump rolled back protections for trans students, banned transgender people from military service, and allowed discrimination under the guise of religious freedom. In his second term, the pace and intensity have only increased.

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Featured Politics Legislature 

Cruelty as Governance: Ron DeSantis and Florida’s Agenda of Injustice

B. John 1909 Views 1 Comment , , ,

John Rawls once wrote, “A bad man desires arbitrary power, but an evil man delights in injustice.” This distinction resonates deeply when examining the actions of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican-dominated legislature over the past six years. Their political maneuvers reveal a pattern not merely of consolidating power but of inflicting harm and exploiting the vulnerable—actions that seem to derive satisfaction from the suffering of others. This is not governance; it is cruelty institutionalized.

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Culture Featured Politics Election 

Mourn The Time But Stand With Resolve

B. John 1010 Views 0 Comments ,

To foster hope, we must remember the countless individuals working tirelessly for justice, unity, and compassion. These voices may seem drowned out by anger and division, but they are there—teaching our children better ways, forging connections across divides, and laying the groundwork for the future we long for. Change starts small, often unnoticed, but it accumulates and eventually becomes unstoppable.

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Justia
Racism Featured Politics Congress Election Religion Society Gay Issues Hate Groups 

The Call to Justice is Urgent

B. John 1019 Views 0 Comments , , ,

Progressives stand at a critical juncture where the call for justice is louder and more urgent than ever. My faith compels me to see the injustices that surround us and act against them with conviction, guided by Christ’s example of righteous defiance in the face of oppression. While persistence is essential, there are moments when persistence alone is not enough; sometimes, our witness demands a more forceful resistance, a willingness to dismantle the systems that perpetuate inequality and cause harm actively.

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Economy Featured Politics Election Presidency 

Election 2024 – Hope for Better is All I’ve Got

B. John 1015 Views 0 Comments , , , ,

One of the most frustrating aspects of this election has been watching Republicans continuously out-message Democrats. The GOP has mastered the art of stirring up fear and resentment, delivering simple but powerful narratives that resonate deeply. Instead of speaking to unity and progress, they speak directly to anxieties and frustrations, offering voters someone to blame for every challenge and setback.

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