EDUCATION AS A WEAPON

 BRYCE ON EDUCATION

- Whom is it aimed at?

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Prior to the 1800's, obtaining an education was considered a luxury reserved exclusively for the rich. Everyone else had to tend to their livelihood which, in colonial America, was primarily based on agriculture or maritime activities. It wasn't until the early-1800's when the public school system was introduced as an attempt to educate the nation's youth. The intent was to fight ignorance, improve communications, and make better decisions. Educating the general public was considered rather revolutionary for the times. Today we tend to take it for granted.

By combating ignorance, education was used as a tool to improve the country internally and externally. In other words, it allowed us to become more competitive, something sorely needed for a fledgling country. From this perspective, education was used as a weapon to allow us to effectively compete on the world's stage.

Beyond combating ignorance for competitive purposes, governments found education to be indispensable for pushing forward political agendas. As Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin correctly observed, "Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." From his perspective, Stalin saw education as a vital propaganda tool for controlling the masses, as did Hitler and others. By controlling their education systems, they controlled the masses. Not surprising, the Communist Goals of 1963 included, "Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for Socialism, and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers associations. Put the party line in text books."

There is indeed power in shaping the minds of people, be it impressionable youth, teenagers, adults or senior citizens. As Americans though we tend to naively believe the public school system, which is funded by American taxpayers, is not being used for political or social purposes; that it is being used primarily to combat ignorance and improve the IQ of the masses. However, because of the failure of people to effectively parent their youth, the responsibility has defaulted to school systems which explicitly or implicitly teaches morality, socialization, sex education, and, Yes, politics. Such subjects are most definitely not what American taxpayers had in mind, but sadly this is the hard reality of the times we live in.

For example, consider the proposal in some states to teach a sex education curriculum at the elementary school level (K-5). Supporters contend the curriculum will help students better understand human anatomy as well as both hetero and homosexual relationships which should, in theory, result in students making better life decisions. Opponents see this as a threat to morality and question the necessity of teaching such lessons at an early age. Frankly, I think the proposal is improper as they are teaching the wrong people. Instead of instructing the students, the school system should have educated the parents so they can effectively instruct their offspring. Undoubtedly, parents would claim they do not have time for such education and would balk at attendance. "Hey, that's the night for watching my reality shows."

The K-5 issue begs the question though: Whose responsibility is it to teach our youth certain delicate issues such as sex education and morality? Again, in the old days, the responsibility was that of the parent; today, it is the school's. As an aside, our school systems would do us all a great service by offering adult training in parenting, thereby taking the responsibility off the shoulders of the teachers where it doesn't belong.

There is a fine line between teaching core subjects such as language skills, math, science, etc., and teaching political or social values. Whereas the former is used as a weapon to combat ignorance, the latter is a weapon for manipulating the masses. This is the primary reason why Islamic proponents want more say in education. Make no mistake, education is indeed a powerful weapon. As "Uncle Joe" pointed out though, who is holding the weapon, and who is it aimed at?

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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.

 

WHAT THE ISRAEL-UAE PEACE TREATY MEANS

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- A totally new era.

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For as long as I can remember, there has always been turmoil in the Middle East. For example:

- The Six Day War between Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan in 1967.
- The War between Israel and Syria (aka, The Yom Kippur War) in 1973.
- Deposing the Iranian Shah in 1979 and the rise of their Muslim government.
- The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990, resulting in Operation Desert Shield which included U.S. forces.
- The rise and fall of ISIS and the Taliban in the 21st century.
- Several Civil Wars and numerous Palestinian uprisings.
- The multitudes of people killed or maimed over petty religious differences.

It seemed like nobody wanted peace and were itching for a fight, be it with Israel or with neighboring Arabs. Such turmoil caused the price of oil and gas to skyrocket on more than one occasion, thereby affecting worldwide inflation, and forced the United States to become the policeman of the Middle East.

Then there were some glimmers of hope, starting with the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in 1979 (which ultimately cost Egyptian president Anwar Sadat his life), and followed by the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty in 1994. There was also a brief peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon (1983-1984), but this unraveled due to a civil war in Beirut. All of these peace initiatives were brokered by the United States. I also remember the countless attempts of peace initiatives by other American presidents which led to no avail.

Then along comes President Donald Trump who promptly moves the American Embassy to Jerusalem after years of talk, but little action, by other administrations. He also encouraged Israel to rethink its position on the West Bank, all of this due to the positive relationship between the President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Not long after taking office President Trump met with the heads of Middle Eastern countries and bluntly told them it was time to get serious about peace as the United States was moving towards energy independence and didn't want to remain in the region as a traffic cop. Further, it was time for them to find a way to work together if they ever hoped to compete professionally on the world stage.

Evidently, this was heeded by the United Arab Emerites (UAE) recently who signed a peace agreement with Israel on August 12th (2020). The main stream media gave this event little attention, but this is quite significant as it presents several possibilities, including peace.

First, you should understand the importance of the UAE. Perhaps the best way to think of the country is as the rich kids of the area, e.g.; within any metropolitan area in the United states, there is always a rich section. In my old hometown of Cincinnati, it was Indian Hill. In the Middle East, the UAE is the Indian Hill. This is a country that has become very affluent and a leader in the region. True, it has considerable oil and gas reserves, but the country has successfully diversified and is now targeting tourism and business in an attempt to minimize dependency on their energy resources. In other words, the UAE is modernizing and becoming a model for other Mid-East countries to aspire to. They will all undoubtedly take notice of the Israel-UAE Peace Treaty.

There are, of course, many countries in the region, such as Qatar, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, but the one to watch now is Saudi Arabia who has kept Israel at arm's length for many years. However, after the UAE deal, this may all change rather rapidly, and the others would fall into place following the Saudis.

The impact of such peace initiatives are literally unimaginable. Between Israel and its Arab neighbors, they have advanced technology, financial resources, energy resources, and labor, lot's of it too.

Such a coalition could result in a mammoth manufacturing industry, construction projects of super dimensions, and more. Imagine an automotive industry flooding Europe with cars, or an electronics industry to challenge the Far East. Of course, this means jobs, income, a solidified peace effort, and the creation of a middle class. With more income comes greater spending power and luxuries, better health conditions, infrastructure, communications, and much more. The possibilities are endless, which is why I see the importance of President Trump's peace initiative, and why it may very well result in a Nobel Peace Prize for him. Such an idea is abhorrent to the news media who is bent on the president's ouster, which explains why the story was buried by the press.

The one fly in the ointment though is Iran who is still supporting terrorism and explains why they must be isolated until they are willing to re-join the world community peacefully. If Iran can be neutralized, a new Middle East will likely emerge. Talks will then shift from thwarting plots of destruction to plans of construction.

Make no mistake, the recent Israel-UAE Peace Treaty is a very big deal. It provides us with a picture of prosperity for the region, and finally puts the threat of war behind us. What impresses me most about President Trump is that he thinks big, or as he likes to say, "HUGE!"

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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 SECRET OF THE NEWS MEDIA

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Intrigue = Money

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Regardless of your party affiliation, everyone seems to be on edge regarding the upcoming November elections. When you add on top of this the concern over the COVID-19 virus, and the violence and looting in our cities, the country is getting worn out, depressed, and frankly, very angry. This is all by design as the news media knows how to pull the strings of the people.

Let me preface my remarks by describing my participation in the 2016 election when I followed the press corps to several Trump Rallies in my state. One of the first things I learned was how immoral these people were and how they gladly sacrificed honest reporting for the almighty dollar.

Ever since the United States went to a 24/7 news cycle in 1980, the reporting of news media has been manipulated by executives for competitive purposes, and this goes for ALL media outlets, be it television, newspaper, radio, magazine, etc. Fewer and fewer reporters are allowed to produce honest copy, most must follow the guidelines as prescribed by their bosses. To illustrate, before all of the Trump Rallies I attended, those members of the press who produced written copy had finished their work PRIOR to Mr. Trump taking the podium. The next day, I would read their copy, and realized it had nothing whatsoever to do with what was actually said during the rally, making the reporting completely fallacious and nonsensical. It was just plain wrong.

It was at this time I learned the news media was in the business of making money, big money. Naively, I had believed reporters tried to report fairly and accurately, but this is simply not so. To make money, they have to create an audience following, and there is nothing better than to create intrigue a la "sensationalism." Let me give you an example, if the press reported an incumbent will likely win re-election and the challenger will be easily defeated, there would be no intrigue, and consequently, no audience interest and no income. However, if it is reported the underdog will likely upset the incumbent, than the press creates intrigue, resulting in a bigger audience and makes more money on advertising, regardless if it is true or not. Not surprising, all of the news media is in on this, be it CNN, MSNBC, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and just about everyone else. Creating intrigue results in big bucks. It is therefore in their best interest to do so, and to Hell with honesty and accuracy, it just gets in the way. Hence, the proliferation of "Fake News."

Closely related to this are the polls, which are also geared to creating intrigue. Again, they will have little to sell if the incumbent is winning. Not surprising, no two polls follow precisely the same criteria and input gathering techniques (people to be selected to be interviewed). As such, they produce different results which is why I refer to them as mixing apples with oranges. Let us also not forget, Secretary Hillary Clinton possessed a double-digit lead going into the election. The same phenomenon is happening again. This explains why the political parties and campaigns do their own polling. In other words, they recognize the major polls are flawed and useless, which is why they rely on their own polling people. The point is, anyone who has complete faith in the political polls is a sucker and should avoid Aqueduct.

So, who should John Q. Public trust for news and polling? Nobody but themselves. I would suggest you watch current events, speeches, and other live events on television (Thank God for C-SPAN), and leave the spin behind you. You may also want to lookup voting results through your local board of elections (which is what I do).

Just remember, the news media's business is not honest journalism, it is about making a buck, and to do so, they have to play the public as sheep. Sorry, but it is true.

So, for you Nervous Nellies out there, take a chill pill and relax. If you are really concerned with the outcome of the November elections, report for campaign duty. Otherwise, just turn off the network news and do your own homework.

Therefore, the lesson today is simple, "Do not believe half of what you read or hear." Then again, you might want to make it 75%.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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.

 

DEMOCRACY VERSUS REPUBLIC: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Most people get it wrong.

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I originally wrote this piece in March 2019 as a means to find out how many people knew the difference between a democracy and a republic. I was shocked by how many didn't. Then again, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised as this simple concept is not taught in classrooms anymore. Yet this is something important to understand, particularly as we go into the upcoming November elections. As such, I decided to rerun it herein and included it in my latest book, "BEFORE YOU VOTE: KNOW HOW YOUR GOVERNMENT WORKS." Enjoy!

One of my pet peeves involving politics is when people misstate our form of government. Normally, I would claim this as the fault of uneducated young people, but many politicians, members of the press, as well as grown-ups are also guilty of this faux pas. No, we most definitely do not live in a "democracy," but a "constitutional republic" instead, as does most of the governments in the world.

In its truest sense, democracy means "Rule by the People," meaning a system of government whereby the populace votes directly on each and every issue. When you consider the voluminous number of bills and candidates to be voted upon, this is simply not feasible, regardless if we had the most sophisticated computer software to do so. Time should be allotted to deliberate on each piece of legislation and, to do so, would require citizens to devote most of their time to such study, and not tend to their own business.

This is why we elect politicians, to represent our interests so the populace doesn't have to vote on every bill, large or small, and explains why we refer to this as a "representative democracy," aka "republic." Here, the elected representatives are governed by a rule of law, such as a constitution, which defines the structure and responsibility of executive, legislative, and judicial tasks. Consequently, we call this form of government a "constitutional republic," which is a more accurate description of our government than "democracy." It should also be noted that under this form of government, the head of state is not a monarch, such as a King or Queen, which lends itself more to being a "monarchy" as opposed to a free-standing "republic."

Every now and then, we hear a politician or member of the media proclaim, "This (or that) is a threat to our democracy." This tells me they haven't a clue as to what they are talking about. Instead, they should have said, "This is a threat to our republic." Alas though, they do not.

The Democrats also have a problem with the name, particularly when they refer to themselves as the "Democratic" party. This too is incorrect. However, it is often difficult to describe the party, audibly or in writing, without making this common mistake. The term "Democracy" is so imbued in our culture, the Democrats try capitalizing on it to confuse the public, portraying the word "republic" as a constitutional threat to the country. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Interesting, Democrats today do not practice Democracy within their own party, but rather act as a Republic instead.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is now the largest socialist organization in the United States and aside from their far-left agenda, it is difficult to discern if they truly embrace democracy or a constitutional republic, I suspect the former.

Another commonly misunderstood area is the concept of the Electoral College in presidential elections, which is indirectly tied to the concept of "republic" as opposed to "democracy" by electing electorates (representatives) as opposed to a popular vote. By doing so, it provides parity between the interests of rural and metropolitan America. Frankly, the Electoral College is a testament to the sheer genius of our founding fathers as it encourages everyone to vote, not just large metropolitan areas.

The Left believes the Electoral College is a threat to democracy, and it is reported as such by the press. In reality, they are correct as the College is intended to be used in a republic, not a democracy.

So, in a nutshell, No, we do not live in a democracy, in the truest sense of the word. We live in a "constitutional Republic" and it is important all citizens understand the differences.

In fact, the U.S. Constitution defines our government in Article IV, Section 4: "The United States shall guarantee, to every State in this Union, a republican form of government..."

Following the writing of the U.S. Constitution, a woman approached Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the delegates and authors, and asked, "Well, Doctor, what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?" He coyly replied, "A republic — if you can keep it."

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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.

 

WHY THE HUBBUB OVER MAIL-IN VOTING?

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Who is doing the asking, you or the state?

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In the early days of this country, voting was restricted to white male landowners. Of course, this changed over the years, but there is something to be said about having landowners vote as they have a vested interest in the country, but that is another subject for another day.

Historically, voting was done in person, using either paper and pencil or a variety of machines. Over time, it became necessary to create an "absentee ballot" for people who could not vote in person, e.g.; people with physical disabilities, people scheduled to be out of town on voting day, members of the military serving far from home, etc. This provided the means for citizens to fulfill their civic duty.

Here in Florida, we refer to absentee voting as "Vote-by-Mail" but please do not confuse it with Vote-by-Mail programs implemented by other states. Florida's "Vote-by-Mail" requires a person to first be registered with the state to vote, then requesting a ballot to vote. To register, you will need either your Florida driver's license or Florida identification card (both include the person's photo). You will also need the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Once registered, a person can request a ballot from the state either over the Internet, by telephone, in person, or by mail. The request can be for one time or as an on-going basis. This all sounds rather simple, right? It is, but the two key variables here are "registration" and "requesting."

In other states, mostly western states controlled by Democrats, they are sending "Vote by Mail" ballots to all registered voters, whether they want it or not. Such initiatives are being exercised by Democrat politicians claiming it will help those voters who do not want to catch the COVID-19 virus. The fact such legislation is being implemented strictly along party lines makes one suspect there are other motivational factors involved, such as encouraging Democrats to vote. Using registered voters from Florida as an example, here is what the Democrats are afraid of. In 2016 there were more registered Democrats than Republicans in Florida, yet Mr. Trump won the election here. Why? Simply because more Republicans voted than Democrats. So, their hope is to motivate more Democrats to vote this time than in 2016. As an aside, the same is shaping up for 2020.

As for me, I like the fundamental concept of an absentee ballot, simply because it gives people who want to vote the ability to do so, particularly if they are unable to vote in person. To ask for a ballot means you care and want to stay involved with the electoral process. Having it mailed out without requesting it is highly suspicious, as party officials may pick up ballots and vote on the voter's behalf. Let's also imagine if you know someone is missing, deceased, moved, hospitalized, or has no intention of voting, what is to stop them from voting on the person's behalf? Not much. Then again, this is incredibly illegal and falls under the category of "Voter Fraud." Moral people would avoid doing this, but what if you are desperate enough to do anything to regain the White House and Congress?

For these reasons, I am opposed to "Vote by Mail" as defined by other states. Frankly, it sounds crooked as Hell. I do not have a problem with normal absentee voting, so long as the person is "registered" and has "requested" the ballot. As to using the COVID-19 excuse to implement such a program, why is it we can go to super markets and stores and not catch the virus? Is it because they know something the Democrats do not? As someone else mentioned to me, "If we can't trust states to properly count COVID deaths, how can we trust them to count our votes?"

Call me old-fashioned, but I would still prefer only landowners vote as they have a genuine concern for their country.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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.

 

IN PRAISE OF THE BBQ PIT BOYS

BRYCE ON LIFE

- It's just plain "GOOD!"

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

Some time ago, I wrote about, "The Joy of Slow Cooking," meaning barbecue. I believe it to be a pleasant and unique cultural experience of the South. It requires planning, a knowledge of spices, and considerable patience. It takes awhile to learn how to smoke meat, and you will make mistakes along the way, but then you begin to figure things out and eventually become a "pit master." It is also a good way to build friendships; after all, everybody loves food, and men are particularly drawn to the aroma of smoked meat. So much so, I'm surprised they haven't invented a "smokey" perfume for women.

There are a lot of people to provide guidance in barbecuing, but one of the best is "BBQ Pit Boys" whom you can find on Youtube! They have produced several free instructional videos over the years on a wide variety of meats, everything from beef and pork, to bison, lamb, crab, fish and fowl, even alligator. What makes the Pit Boys interesting is they provide simple instructions, their creations are delicious, and more importantly, they make it fun. After watching their videos, you want to try your hand at recreating their recipes.

The Boys look like members of ZZ Top and occasionally bring firearms to the show for a little target practice while the meal is cooking. When I first started watching them, I somehow got the impression they were from Tennessee. The host, Bob Ahlgren, has a charming country voice reminiscent of the South. Surprisingly, I discovered the group was from the middle of Connecticut making them confirmed Yankees, and not Southern Boys.

After starting in 2007, their popularity grew at a whirlwind pace. Today, they have millions of hits on their videos (over 276m) and a worldwide audience, making them very attractive to advertisers. They are on just about every social network imaginable, including Facebook and Twitter. Today, they have an office to sell their "official merchandise," consisting of 35 employees, and I am told their revenues are in the neighborhood of $7 million, not too shabby for a fun idea that blossomed into quite an enterprise.

I have personally tried a few of their recipes and have yet to be disappointed. My favorite by far is the "BBQ Pork Roast," where I took a nine pound pork shoulder (with blade in), seasoned it and let it sit over night, then smoked it with apple wood (and juice in the drip pan) for eight hours. The meat fell off the bone easily and the seasoning resulted in a mouth-watering meal which I served to six hungry people. Even though it took a long time from start-to-finish, it was easy to do, and the taste was simply amazing.

I also had success with their "Bacon Firecracker Jalapeno Pepper Poppers" which is intended for adventurous spirits who love spicy food. It too was easy to prepare and went well with a few ice-cold beers.

For breakfast, I tried the "Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich" which was fabulous but too much for one person.

I also have my eye on their "Bacon Onion Rings," "Grilled Pocket Burgers," and their "Onion Burgers." And, Yes, bacon is an essential ingredient for many of their recipes. Their standard seasoning is SPG (Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder) which they apply liberally, as well as other spices, such as Paprika, Cayenne pepper, cumin, and others, all of which are available from their "official merchandise" store. They also sell tools, grills, smokers, shirts, and just about anything else you need for smoking.

Their secret to success is to make their recipes look easy to make, and have a lot of fun in the process. The result is a massive fan club with over 17,000 chapters around the world, including a couple hundred here in Florida alone. They have even simplified the process to create a Chapter, which means more and more people are signing up and following them through their "newsletter."

Once you start to peek behind the curtains, you begin to wonder if their Southern image is a gag, especially since they are from Connecticut. Frankly, it doesn't matter as their food can turn the heads of critics who, quite frankly, they couldn't care less about. Not only is the food good, but what we are witnessing is brilliant marketing. Think about it, you help your audience prepare good food while having fun and enjoying camaraderie in the process. That is a recipe for success if I ever saw one. As Bob Ahlgren would say, "It's GOOD!"

Note: The author received no compensation for this article. He's simply a fan.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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.

 

CAPITALISM VERSUS SOCIALISM: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– What every young person should know.

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

I originally wrote this piece in March 2019 and was pleasantly surprised by the flurry of questions I received regarding the differences between Capitalism and Socialism.  High Schools simply do not teach the differences between these two important subjects, hence the interest in my article. So much so, I produced a free mini-poster to show the differences (click to DOWNLOAD). As these two opposing philosophies are key to the upcoming elections in November, I decided to rerun it herein and included it in my latest book, "BEFORE YOU VOTE: KNOW HOW YOUR GOVERNMENT WORKS." Enjoy!

REFERENCE GUIDE

                                                              CAPITALISM                                SOCIALISM

WHAT IS IT?	Socioeconomic system based on PRIVATE ownership of the means of production and operates for PROFIT.Encourages independence and the rights of the INDIVIDUAL over the group. The individual is allowed to try any endeavor, including the development, marketing and support of products and services for public consumption. The individual is allowed to keep and enjoy the fruits of his/her labors.	Socioeconomic system based on STATE ownership of the means of production; not driven by profit.Encourages state dependency and the rights of the GROUP over the individual. The state dictates what products and services are to be developed, and who shall produce them. Each person works for the state, not individually, and receives compensation in the form of shared wealth and free services. A pseudo-Utopia.
ECONOMY	Free economy; based on private buyers and sellers.Competition flourishes and causes natural evolution of products and services through market demand (akin to Darwin’s “Natural Selection”). Consumers free to choose the products and services they want.	Economy is controlled by the state; little, if any, competition. Buyer has fewer choices to make.
CLASS STRUCTURE	3 levels – Upper/Middle/Lower classes. Middle class powers economy through purchasing power.	2 levels – State/Worker classes (aka, “Master/Slave”).No middle class, no economic engine, a redistribution of the wealth. Workers become wards of the state.
THE INDIVIDUAL	Independence encourages personal initiative and work ethic.More earning power, but individual assumes risk. Enjoys protection of Intellectual Property, e.g., patents, copyrights, trade secrets, etc. Employment will experience ups and downs due to economic conditions.	Discourages personal initiative (“everyone wins”). No Super Rich.Compensation is evenly distributed among workers. Earning power is limited. Individual assumes no risk. Intellectual Property is owned by the state, not individual. Employment is guaranteed.
EFFECT ON GOVERNMENT	Personal independence requires freedom and equal rights in order to function.Requires less bureaucracy, smaller government. Flourishes under a Republic with democratically elected representatives.	Creates dependency on state; Requires more bureaucracy (larger government) through regulation as the state controls everything, including food, education, housing, communications, health care, energy, transportation, etc.Hinders rights and loss of liberty. Encourages autocratic rule. Less freedom.

Click for MINI-POSTER.

Whereas Republicans tend to embrace Capitalism, Democrats tend to embrace Socialism, which helps explain the significant void between the two parties.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a 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 © 2019-2020 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.

HOW DO THE DEMOCRATS MANAGE?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Not very well I'm afraid.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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As a long-time management consultant who has worked with a wide range of companies around the world, I have been considering how well Democrats manage at the municipal, county, state, and Congressional levels. Aside from giving away benefits in order to buy votes, they have not impressed me. I therefore beg the question...

WHAT DO THE DEMOCRATS DO FOR YOU?

1. As Mayors and city/town councils - Democrats command the lion's share of urban areas across the United States. One of the more controversial subjects they embrace is "sanctuary cities" which is intended to provide a safety zone for illegal immigrants from prosecution. They even go so far as to not cooperate with federal officials concerned with capturing illegals and returning them to their country of origin. Democrats claim they want to provide a safety zone for such people so they can enjoy the social, medical, and educational benefits of America, thereby grooming them for future voters. To this end, policies have been introduced to prevent local police and other city workers from asking about a person's immigration status.

Today, cities run by the Democrats foster a culture conducive to protests, rioting and vandalism. Such turmoil puts the safety of citizens in jeopardy, as well as local businesses. One side-effect from such a culture is the rise of gun violence in inner cities, the likes of which we haven't seen before. Quite frankly, there couldn't be a better time for being a criminal. All of this implies Democrats are anti-safety, anti-business, and anti-law and order, which I translate into un-American.

2. As county officials - Democrats are trying desperately to introduce the concept of "regionalism" which, in a nutshell, looks to create metropolitan governments spanning multiple counties. For example, in the Tampa Bay area, it is concerned with combining Hillsborough County with Pinellas, and possibly more, such as Manatee, Pasco, and Sarasota. In California, the Bay area region could involve San Francisco, Oakland, and Sonoma County. In Western New York, it might mean combining Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Jamestown. In southwest Ohio, it would include Cincinnati, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana. This is a concept that has been tested in Europe (such as in the Basque area between Spain and France).

By creating such regions, they are creating another layer of government bureaucracy and taxes. Translation: more big government that will usurp the power of municipalities and counties. Under this scenario, the ideal progressive power structure would appear as:

Global > Federal > State > Region > County > Municipal

Whereas globalization represents a threat to the authority of federal and state governments, regionalism will do likewise to counties and municipalities. The real intent is to increase political power by reshaping the structure of government. Basically, it negates the need for legal and long-standing geographical boundaries, even going so far as to cross state lines.

3. As Governors - Democrats do not have a stellar record for managing their states. To illustrate, for many years the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, reported the financial stability of the fifty states, plus Puerto Rico and Guam. The report considered debt and financial obligations, as well as state pension programs and health care benefits. The last report was in 2018. At that time, the Top 10 best run states were predominantly Republican:

#1 – Nebraska (R)
#2 – South Dakota (R)
#3 – Tennessee (R)
#4 – Florida (R)
#5 – Oklahoma (R)
#6 – Wyoming (R)
#7 – Idaho (R)
#8 – Utah (R)
#9 – North Carolina - (Democrat Governor, Republican Assembly)
#10 – Nevada - (D)

The Bottom 10 states were predominantly Democrat:

#41 – New York (D)
#42 – California (D)
#43 – West Virginia (D)
#44 – Delaware (D)
#45 – New Mexico (D)
#46 – Kentucky - (Democrat Governor, Republican Assembly)
#47 – Massachusetts (D)
#48 – New Jersey (D)
#49 – Connecticut (D)
#50 – Illinois (D)

It appears financial success in state governments is not by accident, but by responsible economic policies. Not surprising, the Bottom 10 have higher taxes which is ultimately causing people and businesses to flee their states as economic refugees.

All of this demonstrates the incompetence of Democrat Governors as managers.

4. Congress - not surprising, Congress is gridlocked. House Democrats spurn the label of "do nothing" as they point to the legislation they have passed, all of which they knew wouldn't pass in the Senate chamber. This implies their bills were designed more for political purposes than anything else.

This leaves them plenty of time to root on their Democrat constituents back home. It has now become obvious the Democrats at the municipal level are getting their marching orders from their Congressional leaders.

I personally find it amusing to see Democrats try to deceive the American public. To illustrate, following a recent night of violence in Portland, where local authorities declared it a riot, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D NY-10) told a reporter, the violence is a "myth that’s being spread only in Washington DC." How he says this with a straight face is beyond me.

So, as managers, Democrats do not rate very well. Instead of taking steps to correct the violence and destruction, they would rather put the welfare of their citizens and businesses in jeopardy, all for political purposes. They also spurn the rule of law, all for political purposes as well. As a result, they are driving people and businesses away who no longer want to experience their madness.

This is the Democrat Party of 2020. No wonder their symbol is the jackass.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also, I have a NEW book, "Before You Vote: Know How Your Government Works", What American youth should know about government, available in Printed, PDF and eBook form. This is the perfect gift for youth!

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.