DEATH STEPS IN AGAIN AND AGAIN

 BRYCE ON LIFE

- I've been losing too many friends lately.

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I lost my wife in December. If that wasn't hard enough to bear, I also lost six good friends in the last ten months, which seems a lot to me. Normally, you hear of someone passing away now and then, but six? These were not just acquaintances either, but good friends. I guess I am coming of the age where friends pass away more steadily. It's an odd feeling too, kind of like in Ayn Rand's book, "Atlas Shrugged," whereby certain business leaders suddenly disappear from society (later to reappear secretly in John Galt's valley).

Here is who I have lost.

Mike Ambrose - we lost Mike just a week before my wife's passing. He was an old friend who I knew through Little League softball, where we both served as umpires, and on co-ed teams in an over 40 league. Mike made a good living selling medical equipment. He was warm and generous and possessed a great sense of humor. He lost his wife, Ro, about a year earlier and was never quite the same without her. I miss his smile and sincerity.

Wendy Moss - Wendy was a neighbor down the street who suffered from MS as well as other ailments. Despite her problems, she had an indomitable spirit that wouldn't allow her to feel sorry for herself. I have known her since our children were in elementary school. Wendy kept a bottle of my favorite Scotch whiskey in case I dropped by, which I did on several occasions where we would talk and laugh. Even though I was a Republican and Wendy was a Democrat, we didn't let politics get in the way of our friendship. In fact, we often discussed it whenever I visited. She was a classy lady who suffered an accident at home which shocked many of us. A lot of people attended her memorial service and grieved her passing.

John Siggins - from Jamestown, New York, John was the first radio personality to have me on his show. He loved his family and was extremely proud of the Jamestown area. His knowledge of history was impressive and we would talk at length about pertinent historical events on his show. He was a good man and Mason with a wry sense of humor. Alas.

Sarah Solo - Sarah was another neighbor in our community. She was proud of her Irish ancestry, and you could hear it in her voice. I would love to listen to her talk and see the twinkle in her eyes. She was very down to earth and was the realtor who sold us our house years ago. Unfortunately, she suffered with a prolonged illness which she eventually succumbed to this summer.

Jerry Spetseris - from Houston, Texas, Jerry and I were college fraternity brothers. He was a smart guy who earned a Masters degree in Geology and worked for the oil companies in Houston. From time to time we would pick up the phone and call each other just to talk, particularly during the Houston hurricanes. We would laugh and talk about old times. Jerry was also an ardent Democrat and we would tease each other about politics. In college, we played rugby, and because Jerry was relatively short, he was the "hooker" on our team and I was his "prop." We won a lot of scrums thanks to his size and our ability to hold him up. He always appeared to be physically fit, but was tragically struck down by an undetected heart problem.

Louis Vavoularis - A local Greek restaurateur who had retired just a few months earlier. He was a wonderful man who passed shortly after Easter and amid the COVID-19 panic. Lou immigrated with his family from Greece to Chicago back in the 1960's, It was a hard transition for him, but he acclimated and went into the food retail industry. In the 1980's, his family moved to Palm Harbor and opened Emily's Restaurant, a popular family style restaurant. Patrons came not just for the food but for Louie's warm personality. His passion was restoring cars from the 1960's, he loved to discuss politics, and was a huge fan of Al Bundy. The suddenness of his passing caught everyone off guard. I saw him just days before and he looked fit. I still cannot believe he is gone. What a good man.

I mourn the passing of all of these people, they left us much too soon. It seems like I was just talking to them and "poof," they were gone. This is why we need to relish every moment with our friends and take nothing for granted.

I then started to consider what they had in common, even though some lived far away. All of them were honest and hardworking. They had no problem assuming responsibility and gave of themselves generously. They all possessed inquisitive minds and a great sense of humor, and they all loved to laugh. And I guess it is this "birds of a feather" phenomenon I will miss. I just hope they knew how much they were loved by the people around them. I also hope they are happy in John Galt's valley.

In coelo quies est - In heaven there is rest.

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 AMERICA SUCCEEDS

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- It is more than just dumb luck.

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Note: The following is excerpted from my book, "Liberal Kryptonite."

These are indeed strange times. We now question not only America's future, but its very existence. This is not the first time we have questioned our ability to carry on. The 1860's, 1930's and 1960's were strange times in our country's history, but somehow we held on and succeeded in spite of overwhelming odds against us.

I have had the pleasure and privilege of being able to see quite a bit of the world, and there are many countries with admirable strengths, but there are weaknesses in them as well. Although other countries are quick to criticize our actions and policies, make no mistake, America is the country everyone wants to work with, and the place where everyone wants to come to. In spite of all of our problems, America continues to somehow persevere. One cannot help but ask, "Why?"

As the world's melting pot, we are a culturally diversified society with a heterogeneous set of opinions and perspectives. Our customs, beliefs, and values are derived not just from the "old world" but from geographical idiosyncrasies as well; e.g., New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest, and the Northwest, each with their own indelible peculiarities which influences the behavior and opinion of the citizens. Getting the people of the United States to conform to a standard set of values, rules, and laws is not only incredibly difficult, it is nothing less than a miracle that we have lasted this long.

So why does America succeed? Two reasons:

First, Freedom - We were very fortunate to have a set of founding fathers with the foresight to develop an innovative Constitution and Bill of Rights which defines the checks and balances of government and establishes the unalienable rights we all enjoy as citizens. It is simply brilliant. Freedom allows us to express our creativity and imagination, encourages an entrepreneurial spirit, and promotes a free-enterprise system that stimulates the growth of the middle class representing the economic engine of our country (and the world). Without this engine, America would be no different than any other third world country.

We have been fortunate to have had many people defend these rights over the years, both in and out of uniform, but perhaps no more than Abraham Lincoln who seemed to grasp the significance of what our forefathers were trying to do and, thankfully, preserved it for succeeding generations. I very much doubt we have anyone in our government today with the wisdom and vision needed to devise as sophisticated a document as the framers of the Constitution did over 200 years ago.

Second, the People - who thrive under an environment of freedom. America is not just one people, it is several types of people operating under one umbrella. Both our strength and weakness lies in our cultural diversity. It brings many different perspectives, insights, and new ideas to the table, thus encouraging opportunity, competitiveness and invention on a global scale. It is because of this cultural mix that we only come together as a result of disaster; the rest of the time is spent arguing, finger pointing, and political wrangling. This is why Americans are typically better reactors as opposed to planners. If America has an Achilles' Heel, it is that we tend to wait for disaster before we act; e.g., The Lusitania, Pearl Harbor, and 911.

America succeeds not because of our government, but in spite of it. Without the blueprint of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, our government would be more invasive in our lives than it already is.

So, why do we succeed? Actually, I think it's more than just dumb luck, but rather because the time was right to create a country like the United States, the need was real, and we were fortunate to have good and learned people who put it all together. As long as we believe in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and do not deviate from them, and believe in ourselves, "We the people..." of America will succeed.

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.

A LESSON FROM THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Demonstrates the difference between capitalism and socialism.

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I think we’re all familiar with the Aesop fable regarding "The Ant and the Grasshopper." I first heard it in kindergarten when the teacher tried to impress upon us the need for diligent work. As you will recall, the fable describes a grasshopper who spent the warm summer months singing and playing while the ant toiled in the fields in preparation for the cold winter. When it finally arrives, the grasshopper finds itself dying of hunger and begs the ant for food who is less than sympathetic as he remembered how the grasshopper wasted his time earlier.

Here, the ant represents industry and the grasshopper portrays the fool who would rather fiddle as opposed to store supplies for the winter. It is a lesson of capitalism versus socialism. Whereas the ant works earnestly during the summer, the grasshopper pleads for help from the ant during the winter, who only rebukes him for his idleness during the summer.

If Aesop were to write the story by today's standards though, I think it would go something like this:

"As the ant struggled and worked to eek out a living, he would be forced to pay the grasshopper a handsome entertainment fee for listening to his fiddle. Even though the grasshopper refused to seek honest employment, the government took half of the ant's food supplies and gave it to the grasshopper who claimed he was entitled to it. The more industrious the ant became to compensate for his declining food supplies, the more the government took. By wintertime, the ant and his family faced exhaustion and famine. In contrast, the grasshopper now lived comfortably in the biggest ant hill with an abundance of food. In desperation, the ant knocked on the grasshopper's door to beg for some food. The grasshopper laughed and slammed the door in the ant's face whereupon he perished in the snow."

As a footnote, the grasshopper perished shortly thereafter as there were no other ants remaining to farm the food.

I, for one, have no intention of going the way of the ant in this modern-day version reflecting the political dynamics of today.

Years ago, when I was in college, I came upon the following quote by Laurence M. Gould, President Emeritus of Carleton College in Minnesota:

"I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don't think our civilization will die that way. I think it will die when we no longer care. Arnold Toynbee has pointed out that 19 of 21 civilizations have died from within and not from without. There were no bands playing and flags waving when these civilizations decayed. It happened slowly, in the quiet and the dark when no one was aware."

Gould's message had a profound effect on me. I too believe America will be destroyed from within, not by external forces. Indeed, history will inevitably repeat itself.

In our case, it will be caused by liberals who want to overturn the American way of life; who want to redistribute the wealth, eliminate God from our culture, reject American exceptionalism, subvert the United States constitution, and replace it with autocratic rule. In so doing, government will become bloated, bureaucratic and control every aspect of our lives, thereby realizing George Orwell's prophetic "Big Brother." Make no mistake, liberals do not support the middle class, they want to destroy it as they know this is where the real power resides in our country. Without a middle class, Socialism blooms.

Behind this is a deep-seated belief the people are not smart enough to do what is best for themselves and the world overall, that they must be controlled and coerced like cattle. Liberals believe the world should be led by the selected few who know what is best and control others accordingly, thereby creating a slave state; people who will do their master's bidding as long as they are taken care of. Under this approach, you are to allow others to do the thinking for you, share everything, own no property, you are expected to behave a certain way, and you will be rewarded accordingly with food, housing, freebies and drugs. More than anything, liberalism is about social engineering and control (aka, slavery).

For centuries, immigrants had to adapt to the American culture. They were asked to learn the English language and conform to the country’s laws, rules and regulations. Today it is just the reverse; the American public is being asked to learn immigrant languages and customs, and adapt to their laws, and rules. One could even suggest that illegal immigrants today have more rights and privileges than American citizens. This is unnatural; the individual should adapt to the culture, not the other way around.

Obviously, this dictatorial form of government is in sharp contrast to our current form which provides certain unalienable rights for the individual. The supposition here is that a monarchy can rule better than a democratically elected republic. Interestingly, this was the reason we fought the Revolutionary War, to eliminate monarchies and provide a government for and by the people.

The lifestyle promoted by liberals is not a natural one. Under a socialist approach, there are no losers (or winners for that matter). Work is no longer considered a natural extension of the human spirit, nor is risk. Consequently, liberals are promoting a program that will ultimately kill ambition, exploration, invention, and entrepreneurship. More importantly, it kills our sense of craftsmanship and productivity and turns us into a second class country.

Bottom-line: The Liberal agenda is moving slowly and silently, but they are moving nevertheless. As Gould said, "It happened slowly, in the quiet and the dark when no one was aware."

Our very way of life is at stake.

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.

 

POLITICIANS - ARE WE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Think of it as a job interview.

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I've been making the rounds through local political meetings lately and have met a lot of candidates for the November elections, everything from congressman, to county commissioner, to school board representative, to dog catcher. There's a lot of new faces running for office, probably because they realize the citizens are fed up with the status quo. Interestingly, I noticed a lot of the new faces are not much better than the old faces.

I don't care what party you're in, there's a certain level of "smarminess" associated with a politician running for office. Maybe it's because the candidate is trying to appease everyone. You have to smile a lot, shake a lot of hands, and be a "Jolly Wally." I don't take these type of politicians seriously and I tend to wash my hands afterwards. They're just plain "smarmy" if you ask me.

I'm generally disappointed in the types of questions we ask candidates. People tend to ask about their position of the catastrophe du jour. I tend to believe it's rather easy to answer such a question in retrospect. It's a lot harder to get them to give their opinion on what they would do in a future calamity; you tend to get vague generalities in this situation.

I don't believe we are asking the candidates the right questions. As for me, I see this as an interview for a job (which it is). Consequently, we should ask questions about their skills, experience, and why they believe they are qualified for the job. For example, here are the typical questions I like to ask politicians:

* "What is the biggest job you've ever had?"

* "How many people have reported to you?"

* "What kind of performance reviews have you had?"

* "How do you accept criticism?"

* "What is the biggest decision you have had to make in your professional career? How did you come to your decision?"

* "What was the largest project you worked on in terms of money and people? What was your specific role in the project? What was the outcome (was it successful or a failure)?"

* "How do you prepare a Feasibility Study? What steps do you go through?"

* "What business skills do you possess? e.g., speaking, writing, negotiations, cost/benefit analysis, return on investment, etc."

Again, if this sounds like a job interview, it is.

In a Republic, the masses elect people to serve office and in the process make their own decisions. Although they should listen to their constituents, they are not bound to follow popular opinion (which would be a pure Democracy). I therefore want to know if the candidate knows how to make a rational decision and has the proper character for the job.

I would much rather know the answer to these questions, then the latest public relations spin. We need more government officials with character than we need smarminess.

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.

 

TAKING A NEWSPAPER TO TASK

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- One person's articulate explanation for cancelling subscription.

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It is no secret the main stream media has turned to the Left and actively supports liberal causes. As such, trying to get a conservative comment printed is next to impossible. This was one of the key reasons why I cancelled my subscription to the Tampa Bay Times a couple of years ago and started the Tampa Bay Conservatives web site. Enough is enough.

I am obviously not alone in this regard as I know many conservatives angered by the press. To illustrate, of the people in our Tampa Bay Trump Club, I have yet to meet anyone who subscribes to the Tampa Bay Times. It is simply loathed by conservatives and labeled "Fake News." I also see this in other newspapers in Democrat-controlled urban strongholds where they pander to the Left, such as Portland, Seattle, Chicago, New York, etc.

I have offered suggestions for "Confronting the News Media," including picketing and boycotting, but one of the most effective means to protest the media is simply the printed word which, unfortunately, few people use to express their displeasure.

Enter Larry Marlin, an old friend and conservative from Bryan, Texas (near College Station and Texas A & M University). For quite some time, Larry subscribed to the local newspaper, The Bryan-College Station Eagle. However, he began to notice a shift in the editorial slant of the paper and brought it to the attention of the Editor there. Unfortunately, the liberal slant went from bad to worse. Finally, he could stand it no more and wrote the following letter recently to the newspaper which I found particularly interesting:
 

Dear Editorial Board:

Since August 10th, I have kept copies of your newspaper and reviewed them for bias. As you may recall, you printed a letter I wrote saying most of "The Eagle" bias comes from your Associated Press articles. I later wrote a letter saying I had been mistaken and your paper was rife with bias. The second letter was based on material you printed after being "woke" by BLM and the rest of the "protesters." You did not print that letter. I did say I was not a member of the “cancel culture” and, rather than cancel my subscription, I would see if your paper made any effort to reduce bias.

I have reviewed each issue since 8/10. You have not improved. If anything, you have gotten worse. During the period 8/10 through 9/4 you have printed 28 left wing editorials and 9 right wing ones. In editorial cartoons you did better with 5 right wing and 3 left wing. Concerning the cartoons, it is interesting that several days after Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hypocritical visit to get her hair washed, you finally printed something about it in a cartoon relegated to the bottom of the editorial page. Other than that, as near as I can tell, you completely ignored the story.

Of course, your AP articles continue to be overwhelmingly left wing. I have not seen any indication of an attempt on your part to reduce this left wing bias. I doubt you have contacted AP concerning their outrageously dishonest presentations of the news. I don’t have time to list all the left-biased articles by AP. I would mention Steve People’s articles about the Democrat convention compared to his articles about the Republican convention — day and night.

Anyway, I will be cancelling my subscription. I just can't imagine you will ever change. Should you surprise me and decide to make needed changes such as blasting AP, hiring a few conservatives, balancing your editorials, writing more unifying local editorials, or anything else please let me know. I might resubscribe.

Sincerely,
Lawrence P. Marlin*
Sep 4, 2020
 

What I liked about this letter is that it wasn't ranting and raving, but rather, a matter-of-fact dissertation as to why someone was unsubscribing. If I was the Editor, I would consider it carefully and not dismiss it out of hand as it represents a legitimate concern of a reader. If Larry's data is correct, the Editor should now realize his slip is showing and should take steps to correct it before all of his conservative readers abandon him. The reality though is, as a supporter of the far-Left, the Editor couldn't care less and is willing to sacrifice readership to preserve the Left's dogma. This is essentially no different than the attitude of the mayors of Democrat controlled cities where their citizen's lives and businesses are threatened. This, of course, is reckless behavior and speaks volumes of their priorities of choosing Democrat policies over the safety and well-being of their citizens.

Larry's letter also happens to make a handy template for writing your own letter to other newspapers. For those of you who have difficulty penning a Letter to the Editor, simply copy Larry's letter, update it with data specific to your area and send it in (preferably by e-mail). If enough people complain of the unfair tactics of the press, the better the chances of getting some honest news reporting. To do nothing is to surrender to the press.

I'll leave it with you.

(* Letter written with the permission of the author)

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.

 

I BELIEVE IN AMERICA

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- It is definitely worth fighting for.

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Note:  The following is a recent speech I wrote.  Please feel free to use it if you are so inclined.

I believe in America, and I have learned it is worth fighting for.

I believe in Americans.
While other countries are homogeneous societies, we are a melting pot of people who want to live the American dream.
From the creativity and hard work of our people, this is the home of craftsmen, scientists, artists, engineers and builders, and the best workers in the world, who simply want the opportunity to succeed, thereby making us competitive and an economic juggernaut.
If you want a piece of the American dream, and are willing to become lawful citizens, and adapt to our society, we welcome you with open arms.
We understand the need for sacrifice to build a better tomorrow.
We thank those people who have protected our freedoms by serving in uniform, people who came from across the country in all walks of life.
We cannot thank our heroes enough.
This is worth fighting for.

I believe in American Exceptionalism.
Yes, I believe we are unique, we are based on liberty, equality, and individual responsibility.
We should be proud to be Americans, not ashamed.
We have a remarkable history. Yes, we have made mistakes along the way; after all we are only human, and certainly not perfect, but we learn from them, and improve ourselves.
We relish our past, but look forward to the future.
We are the people the free world turns to in times of crisis; the people who have lent a helping hand on more than one occasion whether others are engaged in hostilities, natural calamities, and economic hardship. We are there for our friends.
We are the people who stand up against adversity, the heroes of the world.
We are also the explorers, the researchers, the people who pave the way.
We seek, we guide, we explore, we lead.
This too is worth fighting for.

I believe in our country.
The beauty of it from sea to shining sea; the spacious skies, the amber waves of grain, the purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plains.
We are fortunate to have abundant energy, mineral and natural resources; we are the world's breadbasket, thanks to the ambition and resourcefulness of our people.
God has certainly graced us.
This too is worth fighting for.

I believe in our culture.
We are the home of religious freedom and the equality of our citizens.
I love the icons of our country and what they represent; the eagle, the flag, the pledge, the statues, and I'm a sucker for John Philip Sousa; they all inspire me.
I believe in morality; that we should do unto others as others should do unto us.
This is a country where honesty, integrity and teamwork take precedence over greed, selfishness and cheating.
We are mindful of the need to create a level playing field for everyone to compete.
Some will win, some will lose, it is only natural, but everyone deserves a chance.
Those that lose, we should encourage them to get back up, dust themselves off, and try again.
We should love our neighbor and help them in time of distress.
This requires empathy, compassion and a helping hand, but we do not want to create a dependency on government for that is slavery.
This is a nation based on law and order uniformly applied to all of our citizens.
We need law enforcement and first responders to protect, defend, and serve our people.
It is more than than the noble thing to do, it is simply the right thing to do.
This is worth fighting for as well.

I believe in the Constitution,
an incredible document defining who we are, our freedoms, our values, and our beliefs.
For example, it is an expression of the nobility of the human spirit by specifying the rights granted to all of us.
It is used to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."
The Constitution was a noble experiment that has survived well over 200 years and introduced some rather bold ideas, such as three separate but equal branches of government thereby establishing checks and balances.
All school children should read the Constitution, many adults as well.
This is certainly worth fighting for.

Yes, I believe America is great and I love it all.
And, Yes, I have learned it is definitely worth fighting for.

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 THREE TENETS OF MANAGEMENT

 BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- Is there any real management going on anymore?

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I have a friend who contends there is no real management going on in business anymore. She argues people are just playing with numbers and not trying to manage their way to success. To illustrate, I have another friend who is a manager of a popular restaurant franchise. I asked him how he manages his people. Interestingly, it is based on such things as sales volume, tips, and satisfaction surveys, which play a major role. From this, a score is computed and the waiters and waitresses are ranked accordingly. These scores ultimately dictate who will be assigned the best serving rotations in the restaurant. Other than this, he does little else in terms of managing his people, and it appears that's how corporate likes it. Interestingly, he also commented to me there was a lack of team spirit by his people; "Nobody watches the back of another," he said with dismay.

"No small wonder," I thought to myself. True, the mechanics of waiting on tables has long been established, but there is a certain degree of finesse required to assure customer satisfaction, and that includes having people work together.

Numbers are useful, but management requires certain people skills in order to maximize work effort. We've always defined it as, "getting people to do what you want, when you want it, and how you want it."

The three tenets of management have historically been: discipline, organization, and accountability. Let's examine each individually:

* Discipline in itself implies standardization, building things or performing services in a uniform manner, hopefully to a high degree of craftsmanship. Communication and leadership skills are thereby required.

* Organization implies structure and the definition of Who, is going to do What, When, Where, Why, and How. In other words, a definition of the methodologies, techniques and tools to be used in the work effort.

* Accountability refers to assuming personal responsibility for the execution of a given assignment.

All three tenets require a certain level of standardization and enforcement. In fact, you cannot effectively implement any of these without some form of uniformity and coercion. How a manager elects to implement the three tenets ultimately defines the corporate culture and the quality of products produced or services rendered.

The reality though is that the three tenets are considered "not cool" by the freewheeling X-Y-Z Generations who adamantly resist structure, control, and responsibility. To them, Discipline, Accountability, and Organization is just that, DOA - Dead On Arrival. I recently read an article by a management consultant who openly opposes the three tenets. He fundamentally argues it is old and tired and should give way to new techniques. Frankly, I see this as a reckless form of behavior. I would agree that classic bureaucracies impede progress and should be flattened, but we still need the three tenets if we want to produce quality products in a uniform manner. In other words, his contention of throwing the baby out with the bath water doesn't hold up with me. Instead, management needs to reexamine the three tenets and the levels they want to conform to.

Instead of trying to take control of the work environment and working with people, management seems more inclined to play with numbers and just hire and fire people (or outsource them). It's no small wonder workers feel blind sided when they get booted from their job.

Maybe my friend is right. Maybe there isn't any management going on anymore; that managers are doing nothing more than just playing with numbers. If she is correct, I'm reminded of the old expression, "Nobody's driving officer, we're all in the back seat." Reckless, very reckless. Let's hope my friend is wrong.

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.

 

MARRIAGE: IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO

 BRYCE ON MARRIAGE

- Like the Tango, marriage can be a thing of beauty if you and your partner are in synch.

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

I first wrote this piece ten years ago. As a Notary Public in Florida, I have had the pleasure of marrying a few couples along the way. Before marrying them, I admonish them of the old expression, "It takes two to Tango," which I will explain herein. As my daughter approaches her wedding day, I thought it would be a good idea to remind both her and her fiance of what this means. I hope you enjoy it.

After seeing so many marriages end in divorce, you cannot help but wonder why couples get married in the first place. Maybe they see it as some kind of legal permission slip to do nothing more than to have sex. If so, that seems to be rather shallow thinking to me. I tend to believe most people get married to quell the biological clock in their heads to reproduce. Under this scenario, husband and wife are doomed to failure after their mission has been fulfilled. There are probably dozens of reasons for getting divorced, but regardless, I think most people go into marriage with impractical expectations and hidden incompatibilities that are slow to surface.

Perhaps the biggest misconception about marriage is that it is easy; that by simply getting married all of your difficulties you experienced as a single person will somehow disappear. Hardly. If anything, your problems are only beginning as you have to learn to live with a new person unfamiliar with your customs, mannerisms, and lifestyle. I have yet to meet the couple who was perfectly compatible at the time of taking their marriage vows. Regardless of how long you may have lived with someone prior to marriage, you really don't know the person until it becomes "legal."

A lot of people fail to grasp that marriage is a partnership. This disturbs me greatly. With me, I have always compared it to the Tango. It involves forming a team which works together towards common goals and objectives, until we learn to dance as one. True, each person has their own unique duties and responsibilities, but to make such a partnership work, it is necessary for some give and take which some people can accept and adapt to, while others cannot. This means you cannot always do the things you did unilaterally when you were single. Now you must consider and consult your partner. Like any business venture, you must do what is best for both parties, not just one. This is the part of marriage most people do not understand. Any time one party ignores or excludes consideration for the other, the marriage is doomed.

If you have any doubt whatsoever about getting married, don't do it. You must go into it with both eyes wide open and possess a genuine willingness to try to work together. Anything less will inevitably result in either an unhappy marriage or a nasty divorce.

So, my only advice to young people considering marriage, always be cognizant of the expression, "It takes two to Tango." If you do it right, it can be a thing of beauty.

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.

 

UNDERSTANDING THE DEMOCRATS

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- I certainly do not.

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

The more I talk with Democrats, the less I understand them. Let me give you some examples:

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to run into a Democrat friend in the neighborhood walking her dog. We've known each other for quite some time and had what I considered a good relationship. On this day, We exchanged pleasantries but the conversation turned to politics. Interestingly, she blamed President Trump for the violence and destruction in our inner cities, e.g.; Portland, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, etc. This caught me off guard; when I said these were cities under Democrat control and they won't ask for the president's help. She adamantly refused to accept this notion and insisted the president was at fault. I went away from this meeting scratching my head wondering how she came to this conclusion. I could only speculate she had been listening to the main stream media.

I mentioned this episode on Facebook and I was inundated by notes from my readers with similar stories.

A reader in Burr Ridge, Illinois wrote me about a friend she had who tried to tell her Kamala Harris was a moderate, not a liberal. She described him as a highly intelligent man who works as a psychiatrist. She was baffled by his comment and asked if he had seen her voting record. He had not, but was unswayed Sen. Harris had a liberal record. Again, in hindsight, his conclusion was likely based on something said by the main stream media. The reality though, in 2019, she was rated the most liberal senator by independent congressional tracker "GovTrack."

Another Tampa Bay reader told me of a client she had who insisted the COVID-19 virus was President Trump's fault. The client contended the president wanted to make money from the vaccine saying, "Yes but he’s so greedy, he wants more and more and that’s what the news says." Evidently, this had been said to her on multiple occasions; so much so, the person believed it.

Another reader from Tampa found something similar. He used to joke about Trump Derangement Syndrome, but now believes it to be a real disorder. In the past, he had not been a fan of President Obama's policies and would provide a rationale explanation with actual facts to make an argument why they were not good for the country. Whenever he asked such questions, the Democrats labeled him a racist or some other vile thing and wouldn't answer him. They did not believe he had a right to openly contest the policies of the president and tried to censure him.

A reader from Holiday, Florida claimed she had a friend in an assisted living facility in Alabama. The woman was told by a member of the staff that unless she voted Democrat she would not be allowed to vote. If this is true, it falls into the category of "Voter Fraud" and is illegal. This demonstrates the "win at all cost" attitude of the Democrats.

Finally, I heard from a Republican organizer in Tampa who claimed people were too lazy to do their homework and would rather be lied to. "They are much happier being mushrooms," she claimed. This last observation leads us to an important point, people will vote along party lines as opposed to studying the issues carefully.

Most of the Democrats I personally know are older "moderates." They go back to the party of the 1960's, under the leadership of JFK and LBJ. They simply do not accept the fact the party has turned to the far Left. They either offer blind obedience to the party or reject it and gravitate to President Trump. I met a lot of the latter during the 2016 election where they told me the party had abandoned them. In 2020, with Trump Derangement Syndrome in full bloom, it must be worse.

So, I have found there are three types of Democrats today. The first, are the naive followers with blind obedience to the party, most of which I have described above. The second, are the schemers and organizers willing to pull out the stops to win the election at all costs, be it legal or not. This is represented today by the far-Left. And the third, are those who see what the party has become and are deserting it.

As an aside, in addition to my loyal readers, I also have my critics who despise my political postings. If I say "black," they will predictably say "white," sometimes just to be nothing more than ornery. They cannot accept the fact someone might have an opposing opinion to their own and will do just about anything to sabotage my work. As an aside, I seriously measure the success of my political columns by how much hate-mail I receive. The more I get, the more successful my column is (my numbers prove it). I learned a long time ago not to engage my opponents on-line as I do not want to lower myself to their level and look bad to the public. I just wish my opponents would first read my articles before they fire back at me, but I guess that is too much to ask.

It is interesting how this madness continues, that we become more polarized with each passing day. Maybe it is time to put saltpeter back into the water supply.

One last thing, I've noticed the Democrats' sense of humor is diminishing, they no longer try to be amusing. Instead, it is attack politics fueled by hate. Republicans can also be serious, but I am also seeing more expressions of humor than I did in 2016. Whodathunkit!

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.