2020 YEAR-END WRAP-UP

 BRYCE ON BRYCE

- My most popular columns and audio segments this year.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

This is my last column for the year as I prepare to enjoy the holidays and rest up for 2021. As has become customary, I'm using this opportunity to review my top essays from the past year.

As you know, I write on a variety of subjects, such as management, systems, technology, social issues, politics, and observations of our changing world. Sometimes my work is instructional and informative, other times it is controversial or humorous. I certainly hope it isn't boring. By the number of subscribers I have, their comments, and the hits I have on my web sites, I do not believe this is the case.

This has been a fiery political year and, as such, my political columns did very well. Nonetheless, what follows is based on my "hits" on my web pages.

My top columns for the year were:

1. IN PRAISE OF THE BBQ PIT BOYS - By far, this was the favorite of my readers and I was pleased to see it win, even though I was bit surprised by its popularity. I think it was the subject matter that made it a success, slow cooking, or perhaps the "The BBQ Pit Boys" show itself is so popular, I rode on their coattails. Either way, I was glad to see people enjoy this essay on the enjoyment of BBQ.

2. WHAT HAPPENS IF TRUMP LOSES? - This was my most popular political piece, which people are still reading five months after I released it.

3. AS FLORIDA GOES, SO GOES THE COUNTRY - This was my last column before the 2020 election. In it, I accurately predicted Florida would go to President Trump. I had thought Florida would set the tone for the swing states, and I may still be right, providing we ever find out about the fraudulent voting.

4. WHO IS REALLY DIVIDING THE COUNTRY? - This was also published shortly before the election. In this one, I contended America hate was not generated from President Trump, as the news media claims, but by the far left instead.

5. BEWARE OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT - Another political essay which described a group of former "Republicans" bent on seeing President Trump removed from office. These were actually Democrats in disguise.

6. THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION - Some predictions of what to expect following the 2020 elections.

7. THE LOSS OF A SPOUSE - reflections on the pain of losing a spouse, something I experienced not long ago.

8. I WILL NOT FORGET - written in July, this represented a listing of the accomplishments of the president, as well as the roadblocks thrown up by the Democrats. Something I realized afterwards is that Americans have a short attention span.

9. ARE WE BETTER OFF UNDER TRUMPONOMICS? - As evidenced by a Gallup Poll in February, the answer is "Yes."

10. THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GEORGE FLOYD - This represented the kickoff to the "Summer of Hate."

HONORABLE MENTION

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOP CANDIDATES

CAPITALISM VERSUS SOCIALISM: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

JOE BIDEN'S DILEMMA

10 TIPS FOR CONFRONTING THE NEWS MEDIA

WHERE DOES THE GOP GO FROM HERE?

I also provide an audio version of most of my columns for those people on the go, courtesy of YouTube. I would like to believe people listen to me at the gym or beach, but more realistically, people tend to tune in while they are traveling or at work. Interestingly, the popularity of my audio segments is not the same as my written columns.

AUDIO SEGMENTS ON YOUTUBE

1. WHAT HAPPENS IF TRUMP LOSES? - Like the printed version, this was my top political piece.

2. BEWARE OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT - Also a favorite, just like the printed version.

3. THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION - This is still taking hits.

4. AS FLORIDA GOES, SO GOES THE COUNTRY - a lot of people tuned in to hear my prediction.

5. UNITY? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH - Something former VP Joe Biden claims he wants, but people know better.

6. IN PRAISE OF THE BBQ PIT BOYS - This segment did well, but nothing like the printed version.

7. WHO IS REALLY DIVIDING THE COUNTRY? - An important piece which did well.

8. I WILL NOT FORGET! - both the printed and audio versions took the #8 spot.

9. THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION - listing predictions pursuant to the election.

10. THE SUMMER OF HATE - Interestingly, the audio version did better than the printed counterpart.

HONORABLE MENTION

DEMOCRACY VERSUS REPUBLIC: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

HOW IS THE FIGHT FOR FLORIDA SHAPING UP?

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

WHERE DOES THE HATE COME FROM?

THE IMPEACHMENT CHARADE IS FINALLY OVER

I will be on sabbatical for awhile until I am ready to get back in the saddle. Merry Christmas.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE. These make great holiday gifts!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

CONDUCTING A MEETING FOR A NONPROFIT

 BRYCE ON NONPROFITS

- Some commonsense do's and don'ts to assist you.

NOTE: The following is an excerpt from my book, "How to Run a Nonproft," a great gift idea for people starting on a Board of Directors for the new year.

Like it or not, the main business of a nonprofit is to conduct meetings, be it a regularly scheduled meeting for the membership, a ceremony or presentation of awards, a Board of Directors meeting, a convention, committee meetings, dinners, socials, etc. Let us also recognize nobody wants to waste time by attending an inconsequential meeting. Poorly executed meetings are the number one reason for declining attendance which ultimately affects membership. After all, if the meeting is bad, the member will not waste precious time attending and will look for other venues of interest to him.

There is nothing magical about conducting a good meeting. It just requires a little preparation, along with some leadership and structure during its execution. Here are some simple guidelines to follow:

1. Start and end on time. Not a minute before or after. This includes not waiting for someone who is running late thereby creating a problem for others. This is simply discourteous. I am reminded of Mahatma Gandhi who said, "Being late is an act of violence, an act of terrorism, because you unnerve people." I tend to agree.

2. Follow an agenda. Print it up and distribute it accordingly, preferably prior to the meeting so others can prepare themselves accordingly.

Sample Agenda

DATE/TIME:

Dress:  Business Casual

Note:  If you have a question, stand and wait to be recognized by the President.

Location:  Chapter Building, address

I.  Opening

A.  Call to order
B.  Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance
C.  Roll Call
D.  Establishment of a Quorum
E.  Review of Sickness & Distress & Deaths
F.  Introduction of VIPs.
G.  Introduction of Past Presidents & Committee Chairmen
H.  Introduction of First Time Visitors
I.  Welcoming remarks by the President

II.  Administration

A.  Reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting
B.  Reading of correspondence
C.  Reading of Treasurer's Report - motion to attach to the minutes
D.  Review Bills Pending & motion to pay them
E.  Reading and approval of Committee Reports

III.  Presentations

A.  Awards for service & accomplishments
B.  Charities & scholarships

IV.  Old Business

A.  Vote on new members
B.  Chapter Building Maintenance Project
C.  Community Cleanup project
D.  Revisions to Budget

V.  New Business

A.  Review membership applications
B.  Assign members investigations*
C.  Initiate new members
D.  Cleanup of kitchen to comply with new health codes
E.  Questions & proposals from the floor

VI.  Closing

A.  Review activity list/punch list & schedule of events
B.  Review preliminary minutes for this meeting
C.  Benediction
D.  Motion to adjourn

3. Follow the old military principle of: "Tell them what you are going to tell them; Tell them, and then; Tell them what you've told them." Developing a punch-list of action items at the conclusion of the meeting can be very useful for certain situations.

4. Introductions are important so participants know the cast of characters involved and their interests. But do not waste an inordinate amount of time here. Also, name tags or name cards are useful to avoid the embarrassment of forgetting names and titles.

5. I am not a big fan of histrionics. Many lecturers like people to get up, stretch, shake hands with everyone or hold a group hug. This can be downright embarrassing to people. Get to the point and move on.

6. Maintain order to eliminate distractions and focus on business. Got a gavel? Use one. Haven't got one? Get one. No, you do not have to be Attila the Hun to run a meeting, just someone with a little common sense, patience, discipline, and a sense of fairness. If this sounds like a baseball umpire, it is.

7. Make the meeting meaningful and interesting. Avoid repetition, boring subjects and boring speakers. Make the meeting something people "want" to attend as opposed to feeling compelled to do so. Make them feel like they are getting their money's worth.

As mentioned, nobody wants to attend an inconsequential meeting. If treated frivolously, people will become apathetic and attendance will drop. I can remember my homeowner association board of directors meeting would literally go on for hours with nothing of any substance resulting from it. When I finally assumed the presidency, I set new records for conducting such meetings. Instead of hours wasted, I completed the business of the association in less than an hour. The first time I did this, one member of the board asked, "You mean, we're done?" After I confirmed his suspicions, I invited him to have a libation at a nearby watering hole.

One last point, I have little use for people who come to meetings unprepared. If you serve on a Board of Directors, regardless of how frivolous it may seem, you are doing a disservice to it by coming to a meeting unprepared. And for God’s sake, bring a pen or pencil and something to take notes on. Only an idiot comes to a meeting without anything to write with or on.

ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER

Robert's Rules of Order, or simply Robert's Rules, is the most commonly used guideline for parliamentary procedure and applies to meetings of just about every nonprofit imaginable. Want to bring order to Board and general meetings? Buy a copy for all of your officers and have them study it. Interestingly, some nonprofits make a point out of avoiding Robert's Rules and leave control of the meeting to the discretion of the person holding the gavel, usually the president. Not surprising, such nonprofits typically default back to Robert's Rules as they do not know how to run a meeting otherwise.

PUNCH LISTS

The term "punch list" comes from the field of construction and is used to enumerate items yet to be completed. A punch list is also a useful tool to remind a nonprofit of items to be performed and should be updated at the conclusion of a meeting, be it a general membership meeting, a board meeting, or a committee meeting. For each item on the list, it should mention not only the activity to be performed, but also who is assigned to the task and when it needs to be be completed by (a date). This reminds people of their responsibilities.

If something has been completed, take it off the list. In other words, a punch list in a nonprofit is an on-going document.

DECORUM

When announcing an upcoming meeting, it is wise to notify the participants not only the date, time and place, but the dress code for the meeting, and the rules to be observed, for example, use of a gavel to bring order to the meeting, stand and be recognized to ask a question or make a statement, how the meeting will follow an agenda, etc. By specifying the decorum of the meeting, you are helping to prohibit people from making a faux pas which may embarrass them, you are bringing order to the meeting, thereby expediting its execution.

AVOID POLITICS

People attend nonprofit meetings to escape the politics and drudgery of work during the day. Instead, they want to come, relax, and enjoy themselves. The last thing they want to hear is political bickering among officers at a nonprofit meeting. It is highly recommended you keep a tight lid on any political shenanigans, gossip, or accusations during meetings. Otherwise, you may very well scare away people. This happens far too frequently. It's ugly, and it's unnecessary.

REVIEW

All meetings should be reviewed, either formally or informally, to determine its success. Informal reviews are used for short meetings to determine action items to be followed up on. Formal reviews should be considered for all lengthy meetings. Standard critique sheets should be used for attendees and the leader to evaluate the meeting. Prepare a summary and evaluate the meeting’s success. More importantly, learn from the comments received. There is little point of going through the motions of a review if you have no intention of acting on it.

Here is a sample Meeting Critique Sheet:

1.  Meeting date _____

2.  Are you a member or a guest?

a.  If a member, how many years have you belonged?

3.  Was the meeting well controlled and run smoothly?  If not, why?

4.  What was the BEST part of this meeting?

5.  What was the WORST part of this meeting?

6.  Do you have any RECOMMENDATIONS for improving our meetings?

7.  Do you want to help the Chapter in some capacity?  If so, how?

8.  Other comments _____

9.  Name (optional) - telephone - e-mail.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS!

Try this a few times and you might find the comments most illuminating.

PROGRAMMING & CALENDARS

A business meeting will always follow a pattern and should be managed accordingly. A general meeting of the membership, may feature a speaker or special subject. In this situation, avoid repetition and don't let it become boring. Use your imagination and try something new. Here in Florida, we have many "snowbirds" visit us during the winter time. As such, I belong to groups who cater to our "snowbird" visitors and put on programs to suit their interests. Can't find a speaker, how about a video instead? Someday I'll have to tell you about the "Spamfest" I scheduled for dinner one night, or poetry reading. We had a lot of people attend.

The point is, use your imagination. Perhaps you might want to select an educational topic, review a special project, or recognize a special member for length of service. If this means trying something new, so be it. Let it never be said the programs of the group are monotonous.

Selecting dates for your events is very important. Attendance depends on not scheduling an event in competition with another nearby venue or a better subject. Research those activities that may pose a problem in scheduling; for example:

* Federal/National/Religious Holidays.

* Public School Events - for holidays and vacations. After all, parents like to schedule getaways at this time. Also, pay particular attention to graduation days and key sporting events.

* Local College - vacations and Spring breaks.

* The events of other nearby nonprofits of a similar nature.

* District, state and national meetings of your nonprofit. Quite often, a national organization will hold meetings and national conventions.

* Sporting events, such as Baseball's opening day, All-Star game, or World Series, or; special Football, Basketball, Hockey, Golf, Nascar events, etc.

* Local community events - such as arts and crafts fairs, parades, town festivals, or special events, e.g., in my area, the Scottish games is a popular event. Be sure to check the local Chamber of Commerce schedule.

* Monitor business calendars for conventions.

* Consider birthdays and anniversaries of VIPs in your area.

Use these events to determine a suitable schedule for the programming year. Free computer calendars are available to help you record your schedule and publish it to your membership, either in printed form or via the Internet.

TRACKING ATTENDANCE

It is wise to track attendance at meetings during the year. Computer spreadsheets are useful in this regards. Simply note the meeting's date, and who attended; for example:

JAN 12	JAN 14	JAN 19	FEB 02	FEB 09	FEB 18	FEB 25	MAR 03	MAR 10
BOARD	MEMBER	BOARD	MEMBER	BOARD	MEMBER	BOARD	MEMBER	BOARD
Snowbird			Spamfest
Night
Members		8	52	7	65	8	51	8	68	8
1st Time Visit.	1	4	0	2	2	3	0	5	1
Return Visitors	2	8	4	11	2	3	1	12	1
TOTALS	 	11	64	11	78	12	57	9	85	10

AVERAGES	BOARD	MEMBER
Members		7.6	53.6
1st Time Visit.	2.2	3.2
Return Visitors	3.4	6.3
TOTALS		13.2	69.1

You may also want to track scores from the Meeting Critique Sheets mentioned above.

By tracking attendance, we can spot highs and lows, perhaps due to programming, the master of ceremonies, or some incident occurring such as an important vote. From this, we can improve programming of the meetings. However, if you have no intent on changing, regardless what the data reveals, there is little point in maintaining such a spreadsheet.

CONCLUSION

Mastering the execution of an effective meeting requires a little planning, a little organization, and a lot of management. Bottom-line, how do you know if your meeting was a success? People do not groan the next time you call one.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE. These make great holiday gifts!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

A HUGE CIVICS LESSON

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- What the 2020 election is teaching us.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

These are historical times, and if you are not paying attention, you are going to miss something. Of course, I'm talking about the 2020 presidential election, and the ensuing investigation for fraudulent voting. This will be discussed by historians for the next several decades and perhaps beyond. This easily overshadows the 1960 election between Kennedy and Nixon, as well as the 2000 election between Bush and Gore. All of this was preceded by the "Summer of Hate," which was much more intense than the 1960's.

The only beneficial byproduct of 2020 is that it is forcing Americans to finally learn civics. This is why I consider 2020 a huge civics lesson for America, something they should have understood all along, but took our electoral process for granted. People are only now starting to figure out the genius of the Electoral College, such as how it is used to represent all the people, not just those living in the major urban areas.

People are also starting to comprehend the need for "checks and balances" between the three branches of government, and the role of the 12th Amendment should no candidate get more than the minimum 270 electoral votes. And they are most definitely learning of the dangers resulting from voter fraud.

I recently talked with three naturalized citizens about their impressions of the helter-skelter of the 2020 elections. One was from the Ukraine, one from Albania, and another from Greece. I found their take on the subject interesting. All three left their countries to realize the "American Dream" and had gone through the process of becoming American citizens. They were excited to naturalize as they perceived America as the source of opportunity, liberty and fair play. However, the 2020 elections caused them to change their perspectives.

The Ukrainian said the elections made those in her native land look good, and you have to remember, her's was a country notorious for corruption, but is now cleaning up its act.

The Albanian said he was not allowed to vote in his own country, as everything was prearranged in advance by the regime, not by the people. To be able to vote in a fair and transparent process appealed to him greatly. Because of the hubbub over the 2020 election though, he is losing confidence in America's ability to conduct an election. He also has a problem with the news media who, he believes, is twisting and turning the truth to suit political needs. Like many Americans, he no longer trusts the press.

The Greek claimed the elections in his native country are worse than the American version, but not by much. He considers the Greek elections corrupt and believes the Americans are going down the same path, causing him to lose confidence in the country.

All three understand the basic principles of American government, something they learned from their naturalization process, but all are disappointed in the madness of the 2020 election. From their perspective, America's reputation is being tarnished by the election, the two warring political parties, and the news media. They have trouble understanding why the greatest country on Earth is acting like a bunch of boobs. To them, it's embarrassing.

It should also be embarrassing to all Americans, but it is not. This is an ideological clash so severe, one cannot figure out how we will survive without some form of bloodshed. Like I said, this is something for the historians to figure out years from now. In the meantime, learn your civics!

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE. These make great holiday gifts!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

TALKING TO YOURSELF

BRYCE ON AGING

– What it says about you.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

NOTE: The following is an excerpt from my book, “Tim’s Senior Moments,” a great gift idea for parents this holiday season.

I have noticed as I get older I have developed a habit of talking to myself. Other friends of mine have commented they have done likewise. It would be rather cheeky to say it is the most intelligent conversation of the day, but this is not what I’m getting at.

With me, I think it began years ago while driving around town. Because of all of the northerners who visit the Sunshine State, Florida has some of the most eclectic driving habits around. Evidently, how they teach driving in the Midwest is noticeably different than how they teach it in the East or Canada. This is very frustrating to the natives, such as myself, who often lose patience with other drivers and let loose with a salty tongue of expletives voicing their displeasure.

Naturally, as we get older, we are not as nimble as we once were and might suffer from basic body aches caused by arthritis or whatever the ailment du jour is. Consequently, we are susceptible to bashing ourselves into walls, stubbing toes, and bruising ourselves in the process. When we hit the deck in the morning, we feel our bones and muscles pop into place. None of this is beneficial to our demeanor and we start the day as a bit of a curmudgeon.

We also find simple tasks are no longer simple. For example, I used to be able to change a car battery in just a few short minutes, but thanks to today’s engineering and safety standards, it has become a complicated procedure, like performing a frontal lobotomy that now takes a couple of hours to perform and causes your patience to wear thin. Technology was supposed to simplify our lives, but I find it only complicates it.

With this in mind, we find ourselves becoming impatient with inanimate objects. To illustrate, I have a Kia with man-eating car doors. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to get the door to stay open as I enter or exit the vehicle. I think the Koreans have trained it to intentionally rip my legs off. Naturally, I become irritated with it, and begin to argue with it, e.g.; “Will you just stay put?” I demand. Of course, it pretends to not hear me and continues to ride my leg.

When I am dressing or undressing, I might reprimand an article of clothing or shoe for not fitting or buttoning properly, e.g.; “Will you just get off of me?”

As you work in the kitchen to cook a new recipe you read in a magazine, you try to follow the directions carefully but somehow it doesn’t turn out the way you had imagined, e.g.; “Why, this tastes like s***!” Naturally, you see yourself as the victim and not the cause of the snafu.

At night, a body ache of some form, such as a muscle or joint, might throb thereby preventing sleep. I admonish them as if they were my kids when they were little, “Will you knock it off and go to sleep!”

The interesting part of arguing with an inanimate object is that you never win. It may be nice to vent your frustration, but such talk says more about ourselves than anything else. When you curse an inanimate object, you are actually cursing yourself. The object is not a thinking entity, you are, and the fact you are quarreling with it means you no longer know how to deal with it anymore.

Now, about this stupid computer…

Keep the Faith!

P.S. – For a listing of my books, click HERE. These make great holiday gifts!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim’s columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube. Click for TIM’S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

LIVING IN A NEWS VACUUM

 BRYCE ON AMERICAN JOURNALISM

- And turning the public into reporters.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

As we all know, one cannot survive in a physical vacuum as our bodies require air. Nor can we make intelligent decisions in a news vacuum void of honest journalism, thereby falling prey to propagandists. Admittedly, American journalism was founded on political opinion as many different newspapers spun the news as far back as the 18th century. However, nobody at the time made a coordinated effort to control the news as there were many different players involved at the time.

I have been a news junkie since I was young. Tragically, I now find I am on my own. Since the 2020 election I lost all respect for the news media and simply do not trust them. This includes newspapers, radio and TV, and social media. Truth and trust is what is at stake here.

I grew up with the New York Times and Chicago Tribune, both of which I thought were reliable. As our family moved, we also embraced the Cincinnati Enquirer, and the St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times). They too seemed reliable at the time, but now their slanted reporting is overbearing. There have been so many factual inconsistencies and political spin in their reporting, I no longer consider them a reliable source of information. I simply do not trust them. Frankly, Russia's Pravda newspaper is probably more reliable. I consider this rather sad as I am one of the last generations who relished reading a newspaper at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee. Alas, no more.

In terms of radio, I used to enjoy listening to the news from CBS and ABC while driving in my car (I can still remember their musical intros). For some reason, NBC didn't seem to be a major player here. Regardless, these news sources appeared authoritative and trustworthy, but those days are long gone.

For TV, I was a Huntley-Brinkley man (NBC) for many years, and took their reporting to the bank. John Chancellor followed and did a capable job. However, when Tom Brokow took over, I sensed political spin creeping into the broadcast. Then along came Brian Williams and NBC lost my trust forever. I followed Fox News for the last few years, but they lost me with their coverage of the 2020 election, as did a lot of people who left in disgust. CNN and MSNBC are non-entities to me. After a political speech, I would often tune into them to see how they translated it. The speech I watched was nothing like what they interpreted. It was like matching English to Swahili; I hadn't a clue what they were talking about. Bye-bye TV news.

Then came the era of social media which originally was considered a great way to communicate to groups of people. Unfortunately, social media giants began to flex their muscles and censored conservative news and opinion. So much for the 1st Amendment. Such censorship caused people to look elsewhere on the Internet for free speech. It also meant the Social giants were controlling the news and political opinion. This is what we call in the biz, "propaganda" (see Joseph Goebbels), it certainly cannot be construed as legitimate journalism. This brings up a point, the manipulation of the news is likely run by some diabolical person, like Goebbels. George Soros perhaps?

To my way of thinking, there is no longer a reliable source for news in this country. Everything is written to fit a specific political ideology. This forces the average American to seek out news on their own. We should all resent being forced to become reporters as we just do not have time for this. However, this is our only alternative as there is no longer legitimate journalism being exercised in this country.

What we are witnessing is not just a change in the political landscape, but a change in our overall culture; A change in the American way of life.

This is why I contend we are living in a news vacuum, thereby making us more controllable. Huntley-Brinkley would be spinning in their graves if they knew what was going on, and I'm sure Goebbels would love to run Google, Twitter and Facebook. I can imagine him drooling all over his keyboard.

I would like to believe now is a good time for a new journalism syndicate to emerge and challenge the status quo, an entity based on honesty and integrity. The reality though, it is hard to derail a system fueled by politics, such as the $11B from the 2020 election, along with a decline of our moral values which accepts the current mode of operation.

Mark my words: We need to change the system before the system changes us.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE. These make great holiday gifts!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

RETIREMENTLAND

 BRYCE ON LIFE

- Do we ever truly retire?

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

NOTE: The following is an excerpt from my book, "Tim's Senior Moments," a great gift idea for parents this holiday season.

I have written about retirement in the past and I still regard it as a mystery. I have had more friends "check out" recently for a variety of reasons. They all claim to be happy to be retired, that they have been planning it for years, and that I am a chump to keep working. I consider this all a bald-faced lie. I've seen some become musicians, where they play pickup gigs. I've seen others become golfers, playing the same course over and over again like a gerbil on a treadmill. And they all seem to be obsessed with Viagra or Cialis for some reason.

Perhaps the hardest part of retirement is adjusting to the pace. At first, most men treat it like a vacation, but they quickly learn it is a vacation that never ends. Initially, they tend to get more rest, eat a little more than they should, take a trip, putter around the house tackling minor assignments, but then they become bored and restless. Instead of having someone set a schedule for them, like their company and boss, now they have to make their own schedule.

Retirement seems to turn executives into gardeners where they spend countless hours turning their property into lush Japanese gardens. At parties, they argue who has the best "Shishi-odoshi" in their "Koi" ponds to scare away deer. I also think they learn the language as part of this process. They have been known to blurt out words and expressions like, "Hai," "non desu ka," "Ohayou gozaimasu," "douzo, and "domo."

Some prefer cultivating vegetable gardens, complete with bib overalls and a straw hat. Somehow I am reminded of Eddie Albert. Tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers are common. The more ambitious farmers try their hand at such things as kale, cabbage, bok choy, okra, snow peas, and a variety of hot peppers. Normally, these are tried only once before reverting back to tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers. For some strange reason, broccoli is avoided at all costs.

At high school reunions I would hear classmates boast they were going to retire soon. They do this in such a way as to make it sound like a game, whereby the winner is the person who retires first. They looked forward to sleeping in during the mornings, travel to exotic locations, or catch up on their reading. Inevitably, they find their body is conditioned to sleep a few scant hours and they still rise before sunup, they rarely travel outside of the county, and the only reading they do is in the bathroom. If anything, they become addicted to television shows like "Jerry Springer," "The View," and "Dr. Phil." Not surprising, they develop the habit of talking back to the television screen as if the host could hear them. The only thing stranger is when they offer applause to the television set.

The retirees start attending breakfasts and lunches with former colleagues. Inevitably old war stories are told over and over again. Breakfast usually consists of eggs, bacon, pork sausage, goetta, scrapple, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, grits, hash browns, and coffee, lots of coffee. Lunches usually includes pastrami, corned beef, hamburgers, chicken wings, and an occasional glass of beer or wine. It is no small wonder they begin to gain weight. There is also the ceremonial toothpick afterwards. They suddenly find themselves volunteering time to charitable organizations and political campaigns. And they spend an inordinate amount of time in doctor offices, where they develop an interest in women magazines.

Retirees discover they miss the socialization they enjoyed at work, which is why they gravitate to group meetings. They realize it is important to their mental health to be able to discuss current events and their observations on life. Without such discussions they become despondent.

To keep busy, it is not unusual for them to go to the post office, not just once, but twice a day (once in the morning and later in the afternoon). They also go for haircuts at dawn. Rarely do they really need a haircut as their hair is now thin. More importantly, it is to manicure the wild hairs growing in their eyebrows, ears, and nose. They also spend considerable time at sporting events for their grandchildren, where they can catch up on their sleep.

More importantly, I've noticed my friends who recently retired get bored easily. Although they pledged to live a life of ease, one by one I see them all going back to take on a job of some kind. Maybe not as rigorous as before, but necessary to practice mental gymnastics. I've seen some people become clerks at some of the home and garden superstores, others work at golf courses, and some go back to what they were doing before retiring. Frankly, I do not know anyone who has dropped out completely. Somehow, they all find a way to go back to work. Maybe retirement is not what they thought it would be.

In spite of all this, I am considered the "oddball" for continuing to work. I still enjoy meeting and working with people; I still enjoy jousting in debate, but more than anything, I still believe I have a role to play and am not ready for the curtain to fall. Besides, I look kind of silly wearing a hardware store apron.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

SHOULD BUSINESS LEADERS RUN THE COUNTRY?

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- As I wrote in 2011, there are complications.

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Back in June 2011 I wrote a column titled, "Why Business Leaders Scare People." This was triggered by then-private citizen Donald Trump considering a run for the 2012 presidential election, which eventually went to Mitt Romney as the Republican candidate who failed to take down President Obama. Prior to this, we hadn't a true businessman run for president, except for possibly Herbert Hoover who was a geologist and understood mining. The intent of my column back then was to consider whether the American people would support such a business person. In reading the article nine years later, I consider it rather prophetic.

I wrote, "When it looked like Donald Trump was going to throw his hat into the presidential ring not long ago, it electrified everyone including his supporters, opponents, and the Main Stream Media. His blunt talk was refreshing to his supporters and scared the hell out of everyone else. The Main Stream Media went right to work undermining his bid as they started to believe he could take down the president (Obama). He was ridiculed for everything from his hair, to his clothes, to his talk. The fact remains though, Trump scared them to death. Now I am not here to defend Donald Trump or explain his exit from the political stage. I'm not even a fan of his popular television show, 'The Celebrity Apprentice.' It is his image as a successful businessman who wanted to correct the ills of the country, and the reaction that ensued, which intrigues me. This is not so much about Trump as it is about any business leader who would want to be taken seriously on the political stage."

I went on to describe the three traits making a business leader successful:

"1. Is entrepreneurial in spirit, a visionary who knows how to recognize opportunity and capitalize on it and in the process is willing to assume risk. He/she is a gambler who knows how to calculate the odds.

2. Knows how to get things done. More than possessing academic knowledge, such a person usually possesses an unusual amount of practical 'street smarts.'

3. Knows how to make hard decisions. A true business leader understands he is in the business of solving problems, not running from them. Yes, he will delegate some decisions and ask for advice from others, but he also understands the buck stops with him and will go to great lengths to see the business not only survives but prospers as well. Hopefully, he understands the best business deal is when all parties involved prosper.

It's this last element which scares the public. Whereas others agonize over making a decision, the business leader knows how to define and weigh pros and cons, calculate the best solution to benefit the enterprise, and make a decision. It is called 'business' and some people are simply jealous of those equipped with the faculties to take rather large and complex issues and make some rather commonsense decisions. It is not the fear of a ruthless dictator which scares people; rather, it is the envy of someone who knows how to consistently make a logical decision, not an emotional one which most people tend to embrace. Further, when a decision is made, business leaders do not necessarily sugar coat their rationale which tends to make them appear abrasive to others, thereby creating fodder for the Main Stream Media."

So far, I was batting 1.000 in terms of describing the future president. It was his ability to tackle major decisions with commonsense solutions which disturbed the media and his political opponents. Towards the end of the article, I pondered how the country would react to a President Trump.

"One last element that disturbs some people is that business leaders tend to be capitalists, not socialists. For obvious reasons, this scares the left, including the Main Stream Media. Make no mistake, this next election is about two extremes: capitalism versus socialism. Whereas the former defends the concept of the free enterprise system and smaller government, the latter is the antithesis."

Plain and simple, people find successful business-types as either a God-send or very abrasive. To President Trump's supporters, he was a breath of fresh air who delivered on his promises and made considerable achievements even in the face of a resistant Congress. To his opponents, President Trump is perceived as a genuine threat to the Washington "Swamp," which worked overtime to fight him. To illustrate, consider what President Trump faced during his first administration:

1. The rise of "Fake News."
2. The rise of the "resistance" movement, both in the Congress and the streets.
3. The Mueller Probe which found nothing.
4. The failed impeachment of the president.
5. The "stolen" election of 2020.

This explains why Trump's successes frightens the Swamp. What takes them years to do, President Trump can do it at Warp speed, and at less expense, thereby posing a threat to their existence.

This brings up an important point, is the nation's capitol a good venue for business people to flourish in a presidential capacity? Unfortunately, the answer seems to be, No. As we have witnessed with President Trump, he is perceived as an uninvited outsider who challenges the authority of the status quo. As much as this may be needed, such a person must be willing to suffer the slings and arrows of a rather determined opponent. The only way such a person wins is if he/she can dominate the Congress and the press. Unfortunately, it usually works the other way around.

After re-reading my 2011 article, all I can say is, Bryce was more than right, he was spot-on!

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

2020 THANKSGIVING

 BRYCE ON LIFE

- What should we be thankful for?

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2020 will doubtlessly go down in the history books as one of the most turbulent in our history. Prior to this, 1968 was considered the most tumultuous. 2020 has it beat hands-down in terms of "The Summer of Hate," the failed impeachment of Donald Trump, the COVID-19 epidemic, and a highly contested presidential election which has yet to be concluded. This has split the country, perhaps irreparably, it has disabled our spirit of cooperation, and created an angst among our citizens thereby altering the national psyche. So you might ask, "What can we be thankful for in 2020?"

We can be thankful for living in the greatest country in the world, but greatness is measured in terms of our ability to achieve lofty goals, fulfilling our commitments, adhering to the rule of law, and remaining a beacon of peace and freedom for the world. To this end, we have stabilized our economy, even in spite of a devastating disease, found vaccines for this disease which will be distributed shortly. We have also fostered significant peace initiatives in the Middle East with more in the offing. However, we have resisted the rule of law in immigration, demonstrations, and voting. All of this threatens the security of the Republic. There are forces from within who are working feverishly to undermine this country. I pray they fail. We have already experienced considerable civil unrest in 2020, and there is yet before us a fine line to civil war we must never cross.

As in prayer, I give thanks to the President, Congress, Courts, and the other leaders of our land for their service, and wish them God speed in administrating our country, and defending the Constitution of the United States and subordinate laws. May they lead justly, honestly, and transparently.

I give thanks to those who defend this great land, be it on the battlefield or in the streets, all who defend freedom, as well as first-responders who risk life and limb to save others. Their fidelity to life and liberty is inspiring, causing us to always remember them in our prayers.

I give thanks to those who support moral values, such as our clergy and citizens who lead by example; people who do unto others as they would have others do unto them. Unfortunately, studies show our morality continues to erode, I therefore pray for simple tenets such as honesty, truth, responsibility, charity, perseverance, patience, and tolerance.

I give thanks to our family and friends, those present as well as those who have gone before us. I pray we relish every second with each other, to learn to live, laugh, and work together amicably. No we will not always see eye-to-eye on everything, but we must be allowed a dialog to discuss things respectfully. Let us always seek the truth.

I pray, nay I beg, for common sense, respect for the human spirit, for teamwork, for love of country, for love of our endeavors, and for the love of each other.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLDER WHEN...

 BRYCE ON LIFE

- The subtle and not so subtle signs of aging.

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NOTE: The following is an excerpt from my book, "Tim's Senior Moments," a great gift idea for parents this holiday season.

As we grow older, we begin to observe signs of aging. Such signs are usually small and subtle, so we only become cognizant of such changes slowly, usually just before it is too late to do anything about it. Perhaps the most noticeable involves how our bodies are physically changing. This goes well beyond losing strength and speed, which we expect, nor is it the obvious signs of a receding hairline, or how our hair grays. Even our weight is anticipated, such as too much or too little. These are all to be expected. What I'm talking about are the little things we tend to overlook, such as hair growing where it should not, such as in our ears, nose, or out of a forehead or shoulder. Maybe worse is the realization your body hair has disappeared and your skin is now as soft as a newborn babe.

Such changes also include our mental acuity, our power of observation, and even our sense of humor. To illustrate....

Our taste of food changes with time. Whereas we used to consume considerable portions, that might be highly seasoned, we find ourselves reducing our intake, either because a doctor has ordered us to do so to minimize sodium, sugar and fat levels, or our priorities change and we no longer enjoy gorging ourselves. In other words, the portions become smaller and more bland. In turn, this affects our gastro-digestive system thereby reducing our "health habits" to something looking like dog kibble. Further, any change in the quantity of food, or type, turns our bowels into a musical theater, sounding like the wood wind section at a greasy spoon.

In terms of libations, instead of milk and colas, we now consume diet soft drinks, coffee and iced tea, something we abhorred in our youth. For alcohol, we have either given it up completely or only allow ourselves an occasional drink at the end of the day to help us relax, usually a strong belt of whiskey as beer and wine now gives us a touch of the wind.

Food and drink affects our ability to sleep through the night. Eventually, there comes a time when we no longer can sleep through the evening and typically wake-up at least three times to pee. We try sleeping aids, such as Ambien or an aspirin "PM" drug, to help us sleep, but this only makes you pee even more.

Arthritis starts to slip into your body, and you begin to regularly feel pain in your skeleton or muscles, particularly in your lower back. This is the result of a lifetime of sprains, strains, broken bones and bone spurs which come back to haunt you with a vengeance. At first, you try to take the pain in stride, but you inevitably succumb to Advil or Aleve and devour them like after-dinner mints. Backs, necks, shoulders, legs, fingers, feet and hips continue to ache, so you begin wearing back braces, and Ace bandages for knees and elbows, not to mention athletic tape to hold you together, and special shoes to walk. Now, with all of the paraphernalia you wear, you start to look something like Robocop.

You are not as nimble as you remember in your youth. The fluidity of motion is simply gone. Whereas you marveled at your prowess on the playing fields years ago, now you walk more carefully, preferably with a shopping cart in front of you to maintain your balance. Bending over is avoided at all costs and squatting is simply out of the question.

Then there is the matter of snot. You never had allergies in your youth, but your head is now swimming in nasal mucus, making you very attractive to the opposite sex. There is so much of it, you wonder why you never invested heavily in Kimberly-Clark or Kleenex years ago. Colds lasted but a day or two when we were in grade school, sometimes allowing us to stay home and be pampered by Mom. Now colds last weeks, if not months, and the only thing to truly comfort us is Jack Daniels.

When you now get together with friends, you notice the conversation has turned from such things as family, work, jokes, religion, news and politics, to sciatica, shingles, strokes, goiters, COPD, cancer and heart disease. You complain about your sagging skin and debate what dermatologist offers the best procedure to correct the problem. After a night of talking about such ailments, you become a Hypochondriac and try to self-diagnose your problems, which the pharmaceutical companies count on. The best word of advice here is to turn the conversation back to family, work, jokes, religion, news and politics.

For some strange reason, the packaging of products is strengthened as you get older. Whereas tearing open a plastic bag, opening a tin can or plastic prescription bottle was once considered child's play, the wrapping mysteriously gets harder to open. It is also at this time you discover your repertoire of vulgar expletives has expanded. Coincidence?

Because you fear the possibility of suffering a stroke, you take aspirin regularly or some kind of blood thinner. The only problem is, you now bruise more easily, and your skin color changes from a healthy glow to a pasty white with purple blotches. Not surprising, you begin to wear long sleeve shirts even on the hottest days.

Sex becomes less frequent than when you were younger. Instead of three or four times a week, you are lucky to get it every three or four years. It's kind of like dancing; you remember how much you enjoyed it, but are no longer sure you remember all the proper moves. Television ads now have men convinced they cannot perform without a pill to act as a sexual picker-up. I still don't quite understand why the ads show couples in separate bath tubs and not in the bedroom where they belong.

You find you are no longer taking a couple of vitamins a day, but a couple of handfuls of pills instead. In addition to vitamins and pain relievers, you are now taking pills to clear your head, dry out your sinuses, make you sleep, and get you horny. The doctor prescribes dozens more, all with Latin names impossible to pronounce, for a variety of medical woes, and you take supplements for calcium, fish oil, glucosimine, condroitum, diet pills, testosterone, stool softeners, antacids, anti-gas, etc. To manage all of this, you buy plastic boxes with dividers listed by day to sort the number of pills you have to consume, which is now in the hundreds. The boxes remind you of your fishing tackle box, and if you are not careful, you might find yourself fishing with a hook baited with Viagra rather than a worm.

Your eyesight weakens, but you realize this was slowly developing over the years. What you didn't expect was to hear terms such as "macular degeneration," "cataracts," and "glaucoma." You then start to ask yourself why you ate all of those rotten carrots over the years. More troublesome though is the loss of hearing which you didn't anticipate. Now you start to wonder if the heavy-metal rock songs you listened to over your headphones in college had anything to do with it. You become perturbed with people who suggest you get a hearing-aid as you feel it is an affront to your age. The truth is y__ better g__ off y___ a__ and g__ o__ ASAP.

So far, I have concentrated on the physical aspects of aging, but there are other nuances we begin to notice as well:

In your youth, you may have been the spelling bee champion of your school, but now you can no longer remember the names of friends, places, or your school. Your math still works fine, but names elude you. Thank God for crossword puzzles to jog your memory.

Your memory also starts to elude you. Whereas you can vividly recount the day when Kennedy was shot years ago, you cannot seem to remember what you had for lunch today, or the beginning of this article.

You have difficulty adapting to the latest technology, be it a smart phone, tablets, streaming media players, or something on the Internet. This hinders our ability to drive a car as it is now dependent on the latest technology. Between XM radio, GPS maps, voice activation, and music players, we start to forget how to put the car in Drive or Park. We also develop a dependency on our grandchildren who are now charged with the responsibility of programming all of the electronics in the house. Without them, we are lost.

At family get-togethers, you are expected to pick up the check. This denotes seniority in the family tree.

You find yourself arguing with inanimate objects - and losing. Your temper flares when you stumble at what seems to be the simplest of tasks. In reality, it is not the fault of a tool or piece of equipment, it is you. Because you have performed a task a million times before, you become easily irritated when something goes awry on the millionth and first try.

You find yourself attending more funerals than weddings, baby showers or graduations. Whereas you danced and drank at many such parties years ago, now you find yourself living a more sedate existence, and miss the fun and friendships of the early days, particularly the revelry.

You discover the morals of the newest generation no longer match your own. This is projected in the fashions, food, and entertainment of the day, which you simply do not comprehend, nor the news. In response, you find yourself spending more time with your pets as opposed to people who do not understand you. In fact, you actually like your dogs and cats better than people as they do not argue with you. As such, you treat them better than a grandchild who lacks manners. At least, with a pet you can train them, but not somebody else's child.

The biggest change of all is the fact you have gotten smarter over the years, not just because of experience, but because you recognize your limitations, and conduct yourself accordingly. Instead of impulsively jumping up to perform a difficult task, you stop and say, "Wait a minute. Let me think about that first."

Interestingly, women generally believe men age better and more gracefully, and men feel likewise about women. The truth is none of us really like it and we're all embarrassed by our looks, no matter the superficiality of our perceived imperfections. We need to get over this. Just pour yourself a drink with a friend and enjoy the moment. We are simply not kids anymore.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

 

THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- And the path the President may take to victory.

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The gymnastics involving the recent counting of the election ballots have been disconcerting to say the least. It has caused high anxiety among Republicans, to the point of making many physically sick. Ordinarily, an American presidential election should be simple, transparent and easy to implement. Despite our technology though it has only become more complicated and prone to error and corruption. This is particularly disturbing in the age of the Internet and pocket computing. I have personally been voting since 1972 and in that short period of time, I have seen it only get worse, not better. As an old systems man, this is another area where I fail to see how computers have improved productivity.

Nonetheless, America has become the laughing stock of the free world simply by its inability to conduct a fair and transparent election. We are now faced with a scandal the likes of which we have never seen. It is bigger than the 1960 election, and bigger than the Kennedy assassination as it represents the attempted murder of a country, not just an individual, which will haunt us for years to come. Now we are embroiled in a justified legal battle which should not be taken lightly and may very well lead to a surprise ending, something we haven't experienced in a very long time. More on this shortly.

Interestingly, I believe there are three areas affected by this nightmare of ballot counting:

1. REPUBLICANS - the outrage over the counting has united the party like I have never seen before. True, millions love their President, but the chaos ensuing from the balloting has incensed Republican voters by insulting their sense of fair play. Republicans always suspected Democrats of voting improprieties, but this latest round will not be left unchecked. This has opened the eyes of Republicans to the next two items...

2. DEMOCRATS - in the eyes of the GOP, the Democrats have gone way beyond the label of the "loyal opposition," to the party of immoral/illegal behavior. Republicans now understand the Democrats mantra that "all is fair in love and politics," that they will do anything, be it lie, cheat or defraud in order to win at all costs. They have seen it in the Congress, mayhem in the streets, and on the campaign trail. In the minds of Republicans, the Democrats can no longer be trusted to do anything honorable; that they represent nothing less than evil.

Even former VP Joe Biden who claims he wants to be a "unifier," is already drawing up plans should he become president to rescind President Trump's executive orders, such as overturning the removal of business regulations, halting the construction of the southern wall and opening the borders, rejoining the Paris Climate Treaty and World Health Organization, killing the Trump tax cuts, re-establishing Iran recognition, and appointing a commission to expand the Supreme Court. So much for "unification."

The only agenda the former VP is interested in is the Democrats', not America's.

3. NEWS MEDIA - Only now are Republicans starting to understand the real power of the press. Prior to this, they thought it was only conservative extremists claiming "the sky is falling, the sky is falling." Now they know the truth of how untrustworthy the media is, that it is all about money and serving the Democrats.

The news media calls President Trump's charges of fraud "baseless," even in spite of the many sworn affidavits the president's team has produced. These media people are the same ones who fought for Al Gore's voting rights in the 2000 election, yet balk at supporting the president's rights. Remarkably, they see no inconsistencies in this and continue to push for Biden's election and attack the president's attempts to seek the truth, claiming it is nothing more than "sour grapes."

Even Fox News has fallen from grace with Republicans who feel betrayed when the network referred to Mr. Biden as "President-Elect." It is not up to the media to "call" the election, that is what the Electoral College is designed to do. In other words, they exceeded their authority. There is now a massive migration underway to Newsmax and OAN (One American News Network). This is significant and will hurt Fox, who is now viewed in the same vein as CNN and MSNBC. Don't be surprised when you hear Republicans chant, "Fox sucks, Fox sucks, ..." The decision by Fox to rush to "call" the election for Biden, is one of the biggest bonehead moves made by someone in the media and will cost them dearly.

Republicans are also outraged by the behavior of social-media giants Facebook and Twitter who have regularly censored Republican postings, claiming it violates fact-checkers. This is also causing an exodus from these services with people gravitating to MeWe, Parler, LinkedIn, and CODIAS (specifically intended for conservatives).

The stumbling by Fox, Facebook, and Twitter represents a golden opportunity for others who must be careful not to replicate the mistakes of their predecessors. For example, Fox let liberal commentators slip in the back door, and Facebook and Twitter censored postings. These big guns may laugh at the new guys as inconsequential, but over 70 million people voted for President Trump, are mad as hell, and are ready to move elsewhere. Such an exodus could possibly have a crippling effect on these media giants. Should the new kids on the block not learn from these mistakes, they will likely suffer the same consequences.

So, where is all this heading?

Professor Shane Vaughn, a teacher at the First Harvest Church & Biblical Foundations Institute of Waveland, Mississippi, produced a video recently which asks, "What Happens If President Trump Does NOT Concede?" In it, he reminds us of an important civics lesson involving some history and Amendment 12 of the Constitution detailing what would happen if none of the candidates garner enough votes to win the Electoral College. I have researched this and could find no flaw in his argument.

Until such time as the states can certify their voting, the Electoral College cannot declare a victor. This is why the president's team is pushing for recounts, particularly from the swing states. The lawsuits may very well reveal voter fraud which could change the outcome in the states. Nonetheless, the investigations can take considerable time, going beyond the date Congress assigns to collect votes from the Electoral College (normally the Monday after the second Wednesday in December - December 14th). If neither candidate has sufficient electoral votes, the vote is turned over to the House of Representatives to decide.

True, the House is currently in the hands of the Democrats, but this is a STATE vote only (50 plus DC). The President would likely win under such a scenario.

This is not without precedence as it happened in 1800 (John Adams vs. Thomas Jefferson), 1824 (John Q. Adams vs. Andrew Jackson), and 1876 (Rutherford B. Hayes vs. Samuel Tilden).

Conceding defeat represents a surrender in the eyes of the Electoral College and any hopes of a recount or checking voter fraud is negated. This explains why Hillary Clinton adamantly warned former VP Biden NOT to concede defeat under any circumstance, as she was well aware of this scenario. It also explains why President Trump will not concede defeat, in spite of the urging of the news media (who is also well aware of it, and not the general public).

This election is far from over, but to make it to a House vote, the President's team has to effectively demonstrate voter fraud occurred and articulate why recounts are necessary. Trump supporters can help in this regard by organizing demonstrations demanding a clean and transparent election.

This election is also a recognition of the ruthlessness of a determined enemy, the Swamp (Democrats, the News Media, Lobbyists, Bureaucrats, and RINOs). As an outsider, President Trump has disrupted their plans and fortunes. Bottom-line, this is the reason they want to eliminate him.

All of this means the Democrats are trapped. They can either acknowledge voter fraud, and suffer electoral losses, or take their chances in the House which they will likely lose. Either way, President Trump wins. When this happens, the Democrats will unleash hell in protest, claiming this is an unfair process (even though it is in the constitution and has been tested).

Fortunately, President Trump has no intention of going gently into that good night. He will certainly not concede the election and see it to the legal end. Thank God for having a president who is not intimidated by the Swamp.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

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WHERE DOES THE GOP GO FROM HERE?

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The next presidential election is just four short years away.

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For Republicans, it's time to get to work. The next presidential election is just four short years away and there is already plenty of things to be done before then. As Republicans, we were very lucky to have had President Trump as our candidate. His fire and energy on the campaign trail was like nothing we had ever seen. However, by 2024 we will have to find a new candidate and whoever becomes the front runner will likely not have the same energy. In other words, it will require more work by the candidate's supporters than this year.

The far-left's agenda will undoubtedly raise its ugly head again in another attempt to turn the country to socialism and immoral behavior. The next question obviously becomes, "What can we do about it?"

To win the next round, it will take more than just waving some flags, displaying signs, and calling people on the phone. Instead of a reactive mode of operation, which is typical of Republicans, how about a pro-active approach instead?

As I see it, we have four objectives to succeed:

1. Promote morality and education, thereby pushing back the lunatic left.
2. Implement legislation to prevent tampering with our electoral process.
3. Select a suitable candidate.
4. Reorganize Republican groups to make us more effective.

More specifically, consider the following ideas:

ACADEMIA - push local school boards for more education in terms of Civics, American History and socio-economics, e.g., teaching the differences between capitalism and socialism. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has started a program to teach the U.S. Constitution to high school students, but more is needed. It has become painfully obvious high school students do not understand the basics of our government or our duties as citizens, such as serving on a jury, understanding state sovereignty, and the need for the electoral college. If we want them to become responsible citizens, it is time to teach these basics again. We certainly do not need any more sheep.

NEWS MEDIA - it was bad enough President Trump had to compete against the Democrats, but he also had to take on the news media which has proven to be unreliable in terms of telling the truth to the American public. It is time to take them down and establish new venues with a journalistic code of conduct that promotes morality. The press has been at war with Republicans for far too long; it is now time to take the fight to them, such as picketing offices and demanding the resignation of people engaged in irresponsible reporting. This also includes "Fake Polling."

MORALITY - politics is very much concerned with moral values. It ultimately represents our sense of right and wrong. I have been discussing morality for several years now and followed studies revealing its steady decline in our country. It is time to express our commitment to morality and applaud those who exhibit exemplary behavior. We should also support religious institutions any way we can, perhaps forming a group to visit local places of worship as guests.

LAW ENFORCEMENT - morality also includes respect for the rule of law. Following the "Summer of Hate," where cities were burned, stores looted, people harmed, and police departments de-funded, it is time to fight back. There is a lot that can be done in this area, such as arranging tours for youths to law enforcement facilities, honoring local deputies and officials, a visit to the courts and prosecutor's office, etc. All of this is educational for youth as well as adults.

MILITARY - as with law enforcement, respect begins with education, such as visiting a military base or pertinent museum.

GOP CLUBS - organize more committees and staff them with qualified people. Something to stress: it is no longer sufficient to just be a member of a group; now is the time to stress the concept of "membership requires participation." It could be a large or small task, but the days of apathy are over, people must become pro-active. We are dealing with a determined opponent who doesn't play fair and will change our world for the worse. If you want to sit on the sidelines, that is fine, but we need people who believe in the cause and will assume responsibility.

LEGISLATION - obviously, it is time to push for a new approach to voting which prohibits fraud, as well as enacting stiffer penalties for fraud, otherwise it will continue unabated thereby setting a bad example for future generations. We can no longer afford to waste time and money on fallacious voting results. Other legislation worth pursuing includes: shortening the campaign cycle and limiting campaign financing (thereby stunting the growth of the corrupt media), and enacting Congressional term limits.

CANDIDATES - Select and support the best candidates for office. We need moral people who support the Constitution, and offer skills conducive for leadership and proper American values. A litmus test of some kind would be useful to determine qualifications for a position. We certainly do not need more career politicians.

As mentioned, politics is morality in action. Over the years, we have dropped our guard and allowed our opponents to walk all over us and, as a result, we are paying a high price for it today. Now is the time for pro-active leadership, participation, and determination. As my old football coach was fond of saying, it's time for a little "STUG" (that's "Guts" spelled backwards).

The next presidential election may be four years away but we also must be cognizant of the midterm elections in 2022, that's just two years from now. Let's get started.

Keep the Faith!

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Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

 

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2020 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.