BACKING UP THE TRUCK

BRYCE ON BUSINESS

- Whoa, slow down! Let's not leap before we look.

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We have an expression we use around the office whenever we discuss a new idea and someone impulsively acts on it without first thinking it through, we call it "backing up the truck." This came about several years ago when we were discussing a publicity idea to promote our I.T. related products. Basically, we were thinking of writing a series of white papers on various subjects and mailing them to our customers and key contacts in the industry (e-mail was still in its infancy). At the time, everyone at the meeting agreed it was a good idea but we should sleep on it over the weekend. However, one of our guys took the initiative of calling a paper supplier and, lo and behold, on Monday morning a delivery truck backed up to our offices with a couple of skids of paper. We were all bewildered why the person ordered the paper before a decision had actually been made, hence the expression.

"Backing up the truck" obviously represents a "leap before you look" type of impulsive behavior and, unfortunately, we see too much of it in the corporate world. I think it might be caused by the highly competitive nature of corporate politics whereby people try to scratch and claw their way to the top and seize on any opportunity for recognition. Yes, it is necessary to respond in a timely manner to the pressures of business, but companies can ill-afford a knee-jerk reaction to every problem or opportunity.

Another reason for it may be that we have raised a generation of people who only understand instant gratification and cannot plan their lives beyond 5:00pm. This would suggest they have learned to operate in a constant "fire fighting" mode of operation whereby they react as opposed to plan. In other words, "backing up the truck" is a natural part of their corporate culture.

If the wrong decisions are made, a "backing up the truck" form of behavior can be both costly and destructive. If you are a one-man operation and have supreme confidence in your judgment, than it might be a suitable form of behavior. As for me, I like to think things through. For example, rarely do I ever write and publish an article on the same day, regardless of the easy-to-use publishing tools now available. I have made it a policy to sit on an article for at least 24 hours (including this column), to give me a chance to think about it over night and look at it with a fresh perspective on the following day. I can't think of a time when I didn't make a modification to an article as a result of this process, be it large or small. I am therefore more confident in what I am presenting to my readership.

When I fly, I like to see a pilot with a little gray hair. It's not that I have anything against younger officers, I just feel more comfortable knowing there's someone in the cockpit who has been around the block a few times, and has the experience to consider all of the alternatives before making a decision, such as Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger. There's no substitute for experience.

By the way, in our "backing up the truck" example, cooler heads prevailed and the skids of paper were returned to the vendor the next day.

Originally published: May 14, 2010

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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 © 2021 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.

NEXT COMES POLITICAL DEPROGRAMMING

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- How the Democrats plan to attack their opponents.

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Back during the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton branded Trump supporters as "deplorables," thereby denoting the disdain the Democrats have for such Americans. It also suggests the Democrat's perception of themselves as elitists; that they actually consider themselves superior to "deplorables." This backfired as it became a badge of honor for Trump supporters and helped unite them. Nonetheless, the label speaks volumes in terms of how Democrats see their opponents, as unsophisticated and obnoxious red necks.

More recently, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) (aka, "AOC") was asked about Trump supporters. Her comments were very revealing in terms of how the Democrats see them, "They proved that southern states are not Red states, they are suppressed states, which means the only way that our country will heal is through the actual liberation of southern states, the actual liberation of the poor, the actual liberation of working people, from economic, social and racial oppression. That's the only way."

Having lived 36 years in the South (and 30 years in the North), I never realized we were suppressed. Maybe AOC is jealous people in the South pay less taxes and our economies are stronger than those in the North, but I guess that is not good enough for control-freak Democrats.

Leftist Newscaster Katie Couric took it further. When asked why members of Congress insisted the 2020 election was stolen, among her comments included, "...it's really bizarre isn't it, when you think how AWOL some of these members of Congress have gotten, but I also think some of them are believing the garbage that they are being fed 24/7 on the Internet, by their constituents, and they have bought into this big lie and the question is, how are we going to really almost de-program these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump?"

The Democrats desperately want to label their opponents as "domestic terrorists." Even President Biden mentioned it in his inaugural address. Interestingly, this only applies to "deplorables" and not groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM) who took an active part in burning America during the "Summer of Hate" in 2020. Instead, these latter groups are described as victims by the Democrats. Strange.

Again, both AOC and Couric reflect the elite status the Democrats see themselves, when in reality they are pseudo-intellectuals. Nonetheless, look for a regular diet of "de-programming" over the next four years emanating from both the Democrats and their communications lapdog, the News Media. By the way, another name for de-programming in this situation is "revenge" as they are bent on getting "deplorables" to conform to their values.

There is an old axiom in psychology that states, "You cannot treat a patient unless they know they are sick." This explains why Trump supporters are being demonized on a regular basis; to try and convince them they are following the wrong path. The weaker ones will acquiesce claiming it is time to reconcile our differences and compromise our values.

Actually, we have already started to see "de-programming" in action; for example, the destruction of historical figures by Antifa and BLM, political correctness in our vocabulary, the "Fake News" of the media, and embracing gender neutral terminology in the House of Representatives under Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

"De-Programming" will include a constant and repetitive barrage of lessons of what the left believe is right and what is wrong. Their goal is to shame people into believing such things as; what we eat is bad, our sense of history is wrong, our views on sex are antiquated, our religious beliefs should be trivialized, and our views of morality (right versus wrong) is obsolete. One subject that will NOT be discussed is how government works, as the Democrats want to quietly change our laws behind the scenes.

Actually, this will be reminiscent of the communist "reeducation" centers in Asia over the years. In addition, before World War II, the German Boy Scouts were suspended in the mid-1930's and replaced by the Hitler Youth, with Nazi training being the goal (Scouting returned after the war).

Suckers will fall for "de-programming," but it will fill true Trump Patriots with a great resolve to resist and there will be a push-back. People will be less likely to accept the left's ideals, as they should. After all, "Tolerating immorality is to condone it." - Bryce's Law

We have already seen a genuine threat to our 1st Amendment free speech rights; e.g., social media censoring groups and individuals; academia putting the kibosh on conservative lectures, and; conservatives being violently attacked by leftist groups. Unfortunately, more is on the way. The biggest threat to the left is conservative television and talk radio. Such programming will come under attack sooner as opposed to later. If and when they are censored, we will know for sure we live in a communist state.

These de-programming efforts are all designed to suppress opposing views and put people in line. By doing so, they are imposing tyranny, a yoke that is unfamiliar in this country and must be resisted.

I also blame the Baby Boomers, of which I am a member, for a lot of our problems as we were the parents of the Millennials who have swallowed the far-left agenda hook, line, and sinker. The Boomers blew it by not properly teaching basic human values, such as responsibility, accountability, sacrifice, and respect. As a result, we now live in a society that believes cheating and bullying are acceptable forms of behavior, people are entitled to free services, there is nothing dishonorable about bankruptcy (especially to your creditors), and divorce is no longer something to be ashamed of, as opposed to honoring your commitments and trying to work things out.

As parents we always want a better life for our offspring, but because we acted more as friends to our children, as opposed to parents, we are leaving them a country that is pretty screwed-up.

Melania Trump echoed these sentiments in her farewell message where she encouraged parents to teach their offspring to be their best. I found her comments most heartening.

If America wishes to remain solvent, then we dare not trifle with the 1st Amendment. If we do, I for one have no intention of living in a Democrat gulag.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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 © 2021 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.

BIDEN'S FIRST 100 DAYS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- What it means to Americans.

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Well, here we go, Day 1 of President Joe Biden's 100 days. He made a lot of promises on the campaign trail in terms of what he would accomplish, but let's see what he will deliver. In going over his promises, I have been able to compile the following list (in no particular order):

* The president will begin by pushing to get his cabinet nominees and other appointments confirmed by the Senate as soon as possible. However, since the Democrats slowed the approval process of Trump appointments to a crawl, look for the Republicans to return the favor.

* President Biden said the first thing he will do is order the immediate reversal of all executive orders signed by President Trump. This includes the plethora of orders Trump made to eliminate government red-tape over business.
TRANSLATION: President Trump's actions were intended to free business from the bureaucratic restrictions government imposed over business, thereby helping to stimulate the economy and bring companies and jobs back to our shores. By reversing course, President Biden will create a larger government and stifle both businesses and the economy. Watch the GDP begin to struggle when this is imposed and stocks slip.

* As part of his rescinding of President Trump's orders, President Biden will introduce an immigration bill to reverse Trump's "cruel" immigration policies, including discontinuation of building the southern border wall, and allowing citizens from seven Muslim countries on the terrorist list into the country. He will also reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and introduce legislation providing a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants.
TRANSLATION: President Biden is opening the flood-gates of illegal immigrants into the country, thereby breeding another generation of Democrat voters. Unfortunately, this will also promote Sharia law in Islamic enclaves in the United States.

* As another reversal of President Trump's orders, President Biden will re-join the Paris Climate Agreement, something started by executive order by President Barrack Obama, without the approval of the Senate. In addition, he will convene a climate summit with the largest economies in the world.
TRANSLATION: This will cost billions, if not trillions, of American tax money which will be diverted to countries with high pollution (including China?).

* Another reversal will be made on President Trump's orders on energy. Federal climate policies will change as well as tight fuel efficiency standards introduced.
TRANSLATION: So much for America's energy independence, thereby once again creating a dependency on foreign energy and military entanglements in far-off countries.

* President Biden committed to administering more than 100 million COVID-19 shots early on. To do so, he will be requesting additional funding from the Congress to implement this effort as well as funding for states and municipalities to get all American students back to school.
TRANSLATION: Maybe he can finally get the support to implement the Trump Vaccine that our former president couldn't. As to schools, we're only talking about those schools under Democrat authority. Everyone else has already returned to school.

Other items to bear watching, but not specifically included in the first 100 days:

* Although Biden said on the campaign trail he would immediately cancel Trump's 2017 tax cuts, this may be postponed until later on, with the exception of increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%.
TRANSLATION: President Trump's dropping of the corporate tax was one of the key reasons for stimulating our economy and returning companies to our shores. By elevating the rate, President Biden hopes this will pay for a lot of his initiatives. The truth is, it will push companies away from our shores, but more importantly, the new taxes will be passed off to the consumer, thereby raising the cost of living.

* In the near future, President Biden will be encouraged to cancel up of $50K in debt per college student taking out a loan. This is something being pressed by Senate Democrats, such as Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who said, "We have come to the conclusion that President Biden can undo this debt, can forgive $50,000 of debt the first day he becomes president. You don’t need Congress; All you need is the flick of a pen."
TRANSLATION: Again, the burden falls to the American taxpayer, even for those who never experienced higher education. Yes, your taxes will go up, regardless of your level of income.

* President Biden recently said, "Our priority will be Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American owned small businesses, women-owned businesses, and finally having equal access to resources needed to reopen and rebuild."
TRANSLATION: If you are white and male, forget it, you do not qualify. I guess there is no racism here, right?

* President Biden has made it no secret of his disdain for the NRA, saying, "As President, I pledge to continue to work together with Congresswoman Giffords, and with survivors, families, and advocates across the country, to defeat the NRA and end the epidemic of gun violence in America."
TRANSLATION: An open attack on the Second Amendment is in the offing, time to stock up. He obviously doesn't understand the NRA is not the cause of gun violence as they are the largest gun safety group in the country.
 

President Biden's problem is the Senate is still under the control of the Republicans, making it difficult to pass any legislation. Like his old boss, Barrack Obama, he will instead rely on executive orders to get things done. His reversal of President Trump's orders will keep him occupied the first 100 days, but having legislation passed, that is another matter altogether. So, we are back to gridlock in the nation's capitol.

In less than two years, the House is up for re-election. Do not be surprised if Republicans win it back, thereby further stifling Biden's actions.

To me, all I see is our economy going nowhere, taxes increasing, and our freedoms threatened. I used to believe Obama was the worst president in my lifetime, closely followed by Carter, but now I am convinced Biden will eclipse the two of them, making them look like stars.

Fasten your safety belt, it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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 © 2021 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.

TRYING TO KICK TRUMP UNDER THE BUS

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- How the Swamp tries to fight back.

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What we are witnessing, as we transition from one presidential administration to another, is political theater at its worst, including a second impeachment of President Trump, and an overt offensive against Trump supporters. While the Democrats try to disgrace President Trump by kicking him under the bus, the reality is they are not kidding anyone but themselves. While these shenanigans go on, the country has stalled and the affairs of the nation are not being addressed, except by President Trump in his final days. That is a fact.

In terms of the president's second impeachment, this is getting little notice by the American public as they know this is nothing but a political charade, even among grass-root Democrats. Many are asking why they are even bothering with this as his term is rapidly coming to an end. Let me see if I can explain.

Following the "Stop the Steal" protest of January 6th, where some people broke into Congress under suspicious circumstances (perhaps because they were not Trump supporters at all), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) used this as an excuse to bring impeachment charges against President Trump for the second time, allegedly for inciting insurrection. Normally this would go to the Judiciary Committee first for discussion and vote before coming to the floor of the House, but not this time as it is being rushed at the 11th hour.

Prior to the protest, the President addressed his supporters. There is nothing in his speech to suggest he incited anything. Click for AUDIO/VIDEO or for the TRANSCRIPT.

There were only three comments that apply here:

"We soon will be marching over to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."

"Today you will be marching to the Capitol to cheer on those brave senators and congressmen and women to do the right thing."

"We are going to the Capitol to give our Republicans the kind of pride and boldness they need to take our country back."

Other than that, the speech mostly detailed a long list of his administration's accomplishments and then detailed the many examples of election fraud in the large cities of the battleground states, followed by his proposals for election reform. In other words, the speech was perfectly acceptable. It is hard to imagine how the Congress will try to misrepresent his words. Nonetheless, the Democrats and News Media have blown this out of proportion intentionally as they see it as a way to seek revenge against a president they couldn't control or manipulate.

All of this is nothing more than a way to get back at someone who wouldn't cow-tow to the Washington establishment (aka, "The Swamp"). Congress may claim outrage over the incident, but the reality is they are jealous President Trump retains a loyal following, and are still afraid of him. As such, the impeachment has two objectives: first, to kick the president under the bus in the hope he doesn't run for a second term, and; second, to take note of the GOP senators and house members who voted against impeachment and use this as a mark of disgrace in the next election.

Whereas President Trump wanted to run the office of the president like a business, the Washington culture is one of scratching each other's backs for financial gain, an incestuous relationship between politicians, lobbyists and journalists. Even Republicans on Capitol Hill showed their true colors by back-peddling on their support for the president. This has not gone unnoticed by grass-root Republicans who are mortified by the weakness of the GOP. So much so, the Republican party is now in a damage-control mode of operation. To illustrate, here in my home county in Florida, hundreds of people have already changed their party affiliation, from Republican to Independent, with many more likely to occur. This is how disgusted people are with their spineless Republican politicians. Had the November elections happened now, Republican politicians would likely find themselves out on the street. That is how serious it has become, while people gravitate to new political groups.

The Democrats on Capitol Hill would have us believe Trump supporters no longer support the rule of law and, as such, must be suppressed for the safety of the country. The reality is, there are no stronger advocates of law and order than Trump supporters. This too is a fact, yet the Democrats are painting a picture of their threat to society. Forget about the Democrat-backed support of Antifa and BLM, who burned and killed people and businesses this past "Summer of Hate." To Democrats, this is a perfectly acceptable form of conduct. They think they can immobilize the Trump people by doing such things as introducing legislation to prohibit Trump rallies, and clamp down on their ability to communicate.

The Congressional break-in became a convenient excuse by social media companies to censor opponents of Democrats, specifically conservative groups and individuals who suddenly disappeared from their platforms like a Mafia hit. Even Parler, a free-speech social network, was given the heave-ho by Amazon. Twitter permanently suspended President Trump's account and a horde of his supporters terminated their membership, including yours truly.

This suppression of free-speech by social media is scary as, inevitably, talk radio will be next and conservatives will be without an effective channel of communications. So much for the First Amendment.

This brings up a point, the "cancel culture" of this country is reaching new levels. I admit to tuning out the major television networks and cable news outlets as they have lost credibility with me. I simply do not trust them and see them as instruments of the far-left. Nor will I watch movies by such actors as Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, or George Clooney. They have politicized themselves to the point I cannot bring myself to watch them or pay to see their movies. And, Yes, I have cancelled newspapers I believe spout nothing but "Fake News." The point is, the growing "cancel culture" is producing two Americas with allegiances that are diametrically opposed to each other and heightening tensions. This cannot possibly end well.

Yes, the call for impeachment is being done more for political histrionics than anything else. It is also very duplicitous (deceitful/treacherous). So much so, it makes me wonder who is really calling the shots for the Democrats. After all, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are not smart enough to engineer such a scenario, they are just following orders.

Even Joe Biden called the "Stop the Steel" protesters as "domestic terrorists,"; to wit, "They were a riotous mob, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. It's that basic," Come on Joe, take your medicine and sit in the corner. Why didn't you use this language when Antifa and BLM ran amok this past summer President-elect Unity? What a hypocrite.

As Pelosi pushes this forward, I hope the president has her arrested and charged with treason for trying to get the Joint Chiefs to change Trump's nuclear codes. This is an overt attempt to disrupt the chain of command in order to overthrow the government.

Nobody believes the January 6th "Stop the Steel" protest was a legitimate act of insurrection, but they are blowing it out of proportion to run President Trump and his supporters out of town so they can resume their incestuous love affair.

Unfortunately, it will not work. Trump supporters will simply re-group and take back the Capitol by use of the ballot box. This may or may not include Republicans. Actually we are long overdue for a cleanup of the nation's capitol altogether. Now is the time for election reform to eliminate these career politicians. Since the Congress will not do it, it is time for a Constitutional Convention.

One last note about the Democrats impeaching President Trump for a second time; they can impeach him as many times as they want, but historians will record this as nothing but political retribution. As much as the Democrats want to portray it as a badge of shame, it is back-firing on them and now being viewed as a badge of honor he received for standing up to the establishment. It will also diminish the concept of impeachment which will hurt them in the next congressional election, which is now less than two years away. Now the next question will be, will the Republicans have the nerve to impeach Joe Biden?

BTW, need a new social network for conservatives? Try MeWe and CODIAS. I'll see you there.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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 © 2021 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.

 

Awomen?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The Democrats step up their attacks on American culture.

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As most of you have heard by now, at the opening of the 117th Congress on Sunday, January 3rd, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), who also happens to be a United Methodist pastor, was asked to do the invocation at the start of the meeting, as is customary. However, he surprised a lot of people when he ended his prayer by saying "Amen and Awomen." Awomen? I think this was done by design, not by accident, nor was it intended to be a joke. At first, this triggered a lot of puns, such as "A-moron," and "Maniac" vs. "Wo-maniac," and I'm sure we'll hear many more in the days ahead.

The term "Amen" is gender neutral and is an ancient expression used by the Israelites to mean "it is true" or "so be it." Frankly, "Awomen" is a nonsense word without meaning. Trying to introduce gender into the description simply doesn't make sense.

There is something more sinister going on here. As part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) agenda for the new Congress, she introduced and passed legislation to eliminate what the Democrats consider gender-specific terms, such as: "father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half-sister, grandson, or granddaughter."

I interpret this as a refutation of the family unit. Are they trying to make us feel ashamed of our mother, father, and all our other relatives? Instead, the Speaker proposes to use more "inclusive" terms, such as, "parent, child, sibling, parent's sibling, first cousin, sibling's child, spouse, parent-in-law, child-in-law, sibling-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, half-sibling, or grandchild." This is just plain silly, and something I certainly will not be adopting.

This reminds me of the Coneheads from Saturday Night Live who described themselves as "Parental Units" to their daughter Connie. Then again, the Coneheads introduced a lot of terms the Democrats would embrace, such as "Zythron the Insistent" (to supplant American historical figures), "Fiberglass" (something people like to bite), "consuming mass quantities" (of beer and eggs, a well balanced source of food), and of course "France" (a deceptive reference to their true love and home planet, "Remulak.")

Is the Speaker suggesting the Ten Commandments is wrong when it states, "Honour thy father and thy mother"? Is she saying we should change it to "Honour thy Parental Units"? Maybe Democrats are nothing more than Coneheads in disguise. I am also confused on how she should be addressed; e.g., "Mister or Madam Speaker"? Perhaps, "Transgen Speaker"? How about her personal life, is she "Mr. or Mrs. Pelosi" or even "Ms."?

Seriously, now that the Democrats are in control of the government, they are stepping up their war on American culture. This will include attacks on religion, history, vocabulary, family, race, and any group or person opposing their agenda. All of this is intended is to keep Americans in line, suppress independent thought, and promote Socialism.

As for me, I'll borrow an expression from the late, great George M. Cohen, "My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you."

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 © 2021 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.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- For enlightening us on the evils of Washington, DC.

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As the tenure of Donald J. Trump comes to an end, let me be the first to say, "Thank you Mister President for your service." The Democrats won't say it, the News Media certainly won't, and don't hold your breath for the Republicans, but as a member of the American populace, I offer my sincerest gratitude for going above and beyond the call of duty. Despite constant resistance from the Congress, a News Media bent on undermining your every move, and fair-weather friends in your own party, you accomplished more than the two terms of your predecessor and undoubtedly more than your successor.

In your four years:

* You brought peace to the Middle East by brokering treaties between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and the Sudan. This should easily result in a Nobel Peace Prize for you.

* You moved the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, something promised by past presidents, yet failed to implement.

* You were responsible for the elimination of the ISIS terrorists in the Middle East.

* The country became energy independent under your leadership, thereby bringing the cost of energy down, as well as inflation. It also eliminated our dependence on foreign oil and further entanglement in the Middle East.

* You inaugurated the U.S. Space Force for the future defense of our country and planet.

* You reinvigorated the American military and reformed the Veterans Administration. You made them proud again.

* You developed new and stronger American trade deals, including the USMCA. Now, such trade deals will no longer be one-sided.

* You expedited the development of the Coronavirus vaccine, thereby helping not only Americans, but our foreign allies as well.

* You created a robust economy, the envy of the world, with higher GDP, and lower unemployment levels for the country, including several minorities.

As an outsider, you hindered the Congress' incestuous relationship with lobbyists, bureaucrats, and the press, simply by putting America first. The Washington establishment fought back with everything they had; fake investigations, a fake impeachment, fake reporting, fake election, all designed to mislead the public. They did nothing but prove the government is for sale to the highest bidder, and whoever can stoop the lowest.

So, in addition to your other accomplishments, let me thank you...

* For believing in the greatness of America and putting our country first. We reject the notion of a world order.

* For showing us you do not have to be a part of the political elite to be successful in Washington, DC, or in any other level of government. You have given us hope common sense can prevail over political ideology.

* For revealing the corruption and diabolical evil of the Washington establishment, as well as their counterparts in foreign governments; the spying, the deceit, the propaganda, the sabotage, and the total absence of morality, all endorsed by the media.

* For demonstrating the need for election reform, something the Congress openly resists. If left unchanged, the Democrats will use this as a template for future elections.

* For clearly showing the inequities of the party system, whose members are more interested in doing what's best for themselves and not the American people. They do not seem to realize their foot is squarely on a banana peal as the citizens are dissatisfied with the performance of our elected officials. There is so much injustice in the government, it is time to finally conduct a Constitutional Convention to reform it, something the Congress will openly resist.

* For showing the gullibility of the American people, those easily brainwashed by the News Media.

Now the American ship turns to port, and our culture, morality and history will come under attack by the coming leftist era.

Thank you Mr. President for showing us the truth and flushing out the true enemies of the country. You opened our eyes to reality.

It's remarkable; we had you for only four years, yet you were the best president in the past fifty years, perhaps 100. We'll probably never find another one like you in our lifetime, not unless the citizens rise up and declare, "Enough is enough!"

President Trump, should you decide to retire you deserve a well earned rest, but knowing your political opponents, they will never stop hounding you as they do not want you to run again. Do not despair though, as it says in Matthew 25:22-24, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

The Patriots will take it from here. We will not forget the lessons you have taught us.

To borrow and modify a couple of lines from Walt Whitman,
"O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip has just begun,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought will be won."

Thank God for Donald Trump.

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 © 2021 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 REALLY HAPPENED AT THE "STOP THE STEAL" PROTEST

 BRYCE ON POLITICS

- An actual report from the ground.

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

The "Stop the Steal" protest was held on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 in the nation's capitol. This was a massive demonstration protesting what the crowd believed to be a stolen presidential election. The people assembled peacefully, listened to a speech by President Trump, and marched to Congress. While there, several demonstrators broke into the capitol building.

I happened to have two personal friends attend the function, and their account is in sharp contrast to the one depicted by the news media. They are a retired married couple, Steve & Marge from Virginia, who requested anonymity in this report as they don't want any retribution. I have personally known them for many years, going far back to my days in Cincinnati. No, they are most certainly not "terrorists" as President-elect Biden labeled the group, nor did they support violence or were affiliated with terrorist groups like Antifa of BLM. Heck, the husband was at Woodstock and I kidded him about the comparison. They are just basic good, peace-loving patriotic citizens who pay their taxes and are concerned about the direction of our country.

I asked them for a synopsis of what they saw and heard. Below is their report, unedited, and not requiring any analysis from me. Their words alone are illuminating.

"It was not easy being in D.C. this week at the 'Stop the Steal' protest. We're older folks - 68 and 70 years old. It was very cold, there were only a couple bathrooms, no place to sit and lots of walking on hard pavement. Maskless individuals were everywhere, and that's certainly OK, however, we are at some risk so we wore our masks and tried to keep our distance.

All that said, we are so glad we went! Since November, we have spent countless hours investigating the claims Rudy Giuliani made about the Presidential election. We have watched at least 20 hours of live testimony held at state legislatures by people who had signed sworn affidavits on the election fraud they personally witnessed. The testimony of literally hundreds of witnesses was riveting and quite shocking. We saw the video in Fulton County where the fake 'water main break' occurred in the early morning hours. We saw videos of media and poll watchers leave and then we saw a person pull four cases out from under a table filled with ballots! ON TAPE we saw two women put piles of those ballots through voting machines REPEATEDLY. We heard direct accounts of ugly harassment and poll watchers being kept within a 'corral' such that they couldn’t see the legality of ballots. We also saw a video tape of Democratic poll workers in Detroit LOUDLY booing Republican poll watchers as they were escorted out of precincts and of windows being boarded up so “we the people” could not see what was going on in that voting precinct.

We also saw an inexplicable jump of literally thousands of votes for Biden occurring in the middle of the night, right after a number of polling places had stopped counting. All of those jumps JUST managed to put Biden in the lead in the battle ground states. We also researched many of the strange anomalies associated with this election, such as Trump winning 17 out of 18 bellwether counties and Republicans unexpectedly winning a number of house seats in spite of Trump losing overall and Democrats winning none of the toss up seats.

So, where is the news on this story, probably the biggest story of the decade? Where are our traditional conservative news sources, such as the WSJ or Fox News? Where is any main stream coverage ANYWHERE, reporting on this? THEY ARE NOWHERE!! And THAT, is exactly why we went, to protest the lack of coverage and to 'stop the steal.' We are now witnessing corruption on a scale we never imagined here in America. It is on all sides, politicians, over 99% of media and virtually all of our courts are going along with the steal. What is hard to fathom is that we are NOT asking to necessarily overturn an election. We are simply asking for proof, for a forensic audit of what really occurred, particularly in the battle ground states. The fact they refuse to do any kind of thorough examination of the ballots or the voting machines only further raises our suspicions of voter malfeasance.

Another reason to attend the protest was a desire to be surrounded by people who know what we know, who comprehend the gravity of what we have witnessed, who believe what we believe, and who understand what is happening, that our precious, beloved America is corrupt, right down to her very core.

As we walked the streets of D.C. on Tuesday night, January 5th, we saw people of all ages, all stripes, all races, and from all across the country. Some were in wheelchairs, some in strollers, many waving flags, virtually all smiling, on their way to a pre-rally event on Freedom Plaza. We listened to speaker after speaker including Peter Navarro and an amazing young man, 15 year old Chandler Crump, stir the crowd with passion and patriotism.

On Wednesday, January 6th, we headed toward the Ellipse where President Trump was to speak. On the way we were again impressed with the camaraderie of the crowd. It was such a relief to be around like-minded people. We passed a number of Chinese people who held up signs and gravely passed out literature on the dangers of the CCP. They were in the right place. Trump gave an excellent speech about his hopes and fears for the future of America. He was certainly not advocating violence as the media has so gleefully proclaimed, after all he was simply stating what we already knew. He was being his usual blunt and straightforward self, expressing his concerns of a corrupted election and how terrible this will be for our country. We have never been to a Trump rally before so we cannot speak from experience, but we detected an undertone of his sadness.

Since we were in the outskirts of the Ellipse we left a bit early to head over to the Capitol building where people had planned to head afterward as a way to show members of Congress their concerns about election corruption. On the way we noticed a few strange characters walking in the front. They stood out from the general congeniality of the Trump supporters. They were restless, watchful, anticipatory, of what, we did not know. They did not appear to be in unison with most of the crowd.

When we eventually arrived at the Capitol building, it was rather odd, for we did not see a policeman in sight. Why wouldn’t there be any guards or police officers? After all, we knew that this very afternoon the elector voting in Congress was taking place. Shouldn’t guards be on duty? As other people arrived we enjoyed some good moments. A highly entertaining Uncle Sam was standing on a cement podium speaking through a megaphone, shouting, 'USA,' or, 'Stop the Steal' and singing humorous lyrics to familiar melodies. The atmosphere was festive. Nearby a number of people had climbed scaffolding for the inauguration. That didn’t look safe. Where were the police?

After a while, people stepped over a short fence and walked right onto the Capitol lawn. Everyone was peaceable, friendly and in good spirits. While milling around we heard a few flash bangs. We couldn’t quite tell where they came from. Some younger people started climbing onto the front porticos of the Capitol. They were yelling down to the crowd slogans such as 'USA' and singing 'God Bless America.' Suddenly a line of DC police did appear. They stood in full gear on the grounds right next to the Capitol building. They were there for maybe five minutes and then they disappeared around to other side. At one point a gentlemen approached us and told us he was from Switzerland. He then said, 'What are you going to do about this?' We told him simply, 'We don’t know.' His phone rang and he left to answer. His question reminded me the whole world was watching and was probably wondering the same thing. What are we going to do about this?

We wandered toward the other side of the Capitol building. There the police were standing on the Capital stairs. By this time we noticed some people had broken a window and climbed into the building. Other than that, we knew very little about protesters being inside the building. As it started becoming colder and windy we decided to head back to our hotel room. As we were leaving, our attention was drawn to an agitated, sketchy looking young man, who was aggressively in the face of a police officer. It reminded us of Antifa tactics we had seen in videos last summer. We also observed someone had flattened all of the tires of a truck and a trailer with Trump signs.

When we got back to our room we turned on a news program. We were absolutely shocked to hear how rioters had stormed the capitol building and created such chaos it had to be evacuated. We understand people should not have breached the Capitol building; however, 99.99% of the people involved in the protest were completely peaceful. Hundreds of thousands of citizens showed up to express their concerns for our election system and our country. The message we hoped to convey to our country and our Congress had been completely hijacked.

All news coverage was about 'riots.' Nothing was said about the multitude of concerned citizens who had chosen to converge at this place. We have patiently been doing the right thing, waiting since election night for events to properly play out, for the people in power to do something, ANYTHING, to bring some kind of resolution to this terrible mess. After all, our leaders, our courts and our laws are here to protect us from this kind of power grab. Aren’t they? In retrospect, this is all rather disheartening. God help 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 © 2021 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.

 

HI HO, HI HO, IT'S BACK TO WORK WE GO

 BRYCE ON BUSINESS

- Now is the time for management to stimulate the work force.

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

Okay, the holidays are over, our friends and relatives should have returned home, the retailers had their way with us, we're back in debt, the holiday decorations should have been stored away for another year, and a sense of normalcy should be returning. It's a new year, and time to go back to work. January is when we reset the statistics, brace for a new year, and try to prove ourselves once again.

Some people have trouble getting back into the swing of work after the holidays; they've probably slept too much, partied too much, and ate way too much, which explains the five-to-eight pounds they've put on. This is why dieting and temperance are among the top New Year's resolutions. Regardless, they are having trouble focusing on their work.

People tend to believe December is the worst month for productivity. Hardly. In addition to general retail, December is when companies try to finish spending the money in their corporate budgets thereby initiating a flurry of activity. Companies would much rather spend money on technology, office furniture, construction, or their employees as opposed to giving it to the government. Instead, January is more difficult as managers have to encourage lethargic employees back to work. The cold weather doesn't help either.

Now is the time for some imaginative management techniques to motivate the work force. Basically, I'm suggesting some changes to the corporate culture. Physically, you might want to consider a new coat of paint, changes in lighting, some aromatic plants or flowers, new uniforms, new screen savers, a cleanup of office files and furniture, some changes in music, or perhaps something different to eat in the corporate cafeteria. In other words, consider changes affecting the five senses of the workers. It doesn't have to be lavish either, just something subtle the employees will notice and appreciate.

You may also want to rethink meetings, including when they are conducted, location, and format. For example, instead of a boardroom setup, how about a u-shaped set of tables allowing the manager to easily move about? A change of dress code may also be wise; if you've been too lax and sloppy, perhaps it is time to become a little more formal. If you've been too formal, perhaps it is time to loosen things up. Believe me, employees notice and respond.

It shouldn't be the manager's objective to make radical changes in work habits. Such changes will be resisted regardless of the time of year. Instead, small changes will be noticed by employees who will see them in a positive light, that management appreciates them and is willing to invest in them. "Hmm..., a New Year, some new changes... I like it."

Your objective is to demonstrate you are investing in your people, and not taking them for granted. Whatever the twist may be, January is the time for management to try it. In all likelihood, it will capture the attention of the work force and help reinvigorate them for the new year.

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 © 2021 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 CATCH-22 IN NONPROFITS

 BRYCE ON NONPROFITS

- Why it is hard to win in a nonprofit.

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I decided to write this column because I suddenly realized one of the nonprofit organizations I belong to was being run incompetently. Then it occurred to me, it was run incompetently the year before under a different Board of Directors, and the year before that, etc. In all likelihood it will be run incompetently for years to come as the people change on the Board. I then began to ask "Why?" and I think I have the answer.

The expression "Catch-22" is, of course, derived from Joseph Heller's novel of the same name. The story takes place during World War II and describes a no-win scenario. The book was so popular, "Catch-22" became a standard expression in corporate America to warn of developing winless objectives and tactics in the execution of a project. It is also a convenient way to understand why nonprofit groups seldom succeed, but limp along instead.

First, we must remember most nonprofits, particularly at the local level, are run by amateurs, not professionals. I am, of course, talking about such things as homeowner/condo associations, political groups at the grassroots level, fraternal organizations, professional trade groups, sports associations, religious organizations, etc. These are groups usually run by well-meaning people with a little time on their hands and want to volunteer their services. Unfortunately, many haven't a clue as to what they are doing. As such, this is an excellent example of the Peter Principle in action, whereby people rise above their level of competency.

Trade groups featuring members from the corporate community are generally run the best as they have a good sense of business and management about them. Some long-established institutions, such as fraternal groups, adopted standard policies and procedures years ago and, as such, run smoother than most. However, it all depends on who is in charge and what their goals and agenda are. Some want to serve on a Board for nothing more than accolades and recognition, others are bent on a petty power trip to control others and form a "Good Ole Boy" club, and there are others who genuinely want to help. When electing people to the Board concentrate on the latter group (those wanting to help). However, if you do not get the right people on the Board, you will get what the group defaulted to, and probably not to your liking.

The linchpin of the Board is the President or whatever the title du jour is. Regardless, this person needs to possess the following attributes in order to succeed:

1. Knows how to conduct a meeting. I have seen way too many people who haven't a clue as to how to run a meeting, particularly in voting on simple proposals (see "Roberts Rules of Order"). This results in wasting the time of others attending the meeting, thereby creating apathy and hindering participation. If you don't know how to use a gavel, appoint someone else to run it for you.

2. An understanding of the mechanics and administrative reports prepared by the Secretary.

3. An understanding of the mechanics and financial reports prepared by the Treasurer.

4. Appreciates the need for implementing "checks and balances" of finances and how to implement such a system, especially if finances are a problem for the organization.

5. Understands how to prepare an effective budget for income and expenses. This includes an understanding of the group's Chart of Accounts and previous annual reports.

6. The laws, rules and regulations governing the organization.

7. The duties and responsibilities of all officers and committees.

8. How to lead and manage others. As for me, I believe in "managing from the bottom-up," meaning delegate authority, don't interfere (except to referee), and follow-up. You must remember, we get things done through people, not by trying to micromanage them. For this to work, you need people willing to accept responsibility, just as in business.

9. Possesses empathy for their constituents. This requires listening and analyzing feedback. Your constituents won't always be right, but they should be heard so they feel part of the team.

10. As a nonprofit, insist on transparency. After all, you are all in this together, and what have you got to hide? Hopefully nothing. A good, regular line of communications is essential. Concentrate of content, not glitz.

Without these basic traits, the President will be viewed as incompetent.

Finding people with such talents is difficult, which is why many organizations encourage a rotational system whereby junior officers progressively learn new skills over time until they are ready to assume the presidency.

As to the "Catch-22" side of things, because most officers lack the proper skills, they are frequently criticized and second-guessed by their constituents, sometimes violently. This, of course, causes the officers to feel harassed, frustrated, and unappreciated. Such a situation causes them to lose interest and their work effort suffers, thereby making things go from bad to worse. As a constituent, when communicating with the group's officers, try to make your suggestions more positive. "Any idiot can see what is wrong, but can you see what is right?" - Winston Churchill. If we are all supposed to be on the same team, what is the point of creating a pissing contest? After all, they have the job and you do not. If you remain at loggerheads with a board member, the choice is for one or the other to exit. In addition, I am NOT a proponent of lawsuits unless they are absolutely necessary. Remember, the only one who prospers in a lawsuit is the lawyer.

More often than not, participating on a Board of Directors is a thankless job. It is a necessary evil that has to be accomplished, and No, the Board will not bat 1.000 all the time. However, with a little empathy by both parties, a spirit of cooperation, and effective communications, you can make this a productive experience for all involved. Try to remember, most Board Members are trying the best they can, even if it is misguided. At least give them credit for stepping up to the plate when nobody else would.

For new Boards, try to avoid the temptation of reinventing the wheel every year, particularly when it comes to the responsibilities of the Secretary and Treasurer. Your goal should be to develop standard practices thereby making it possible to teach new people the various jobs.

One last thing, there are some nonprofits who hire a management company to handle the administrative affairs of the organization. This is an admission either the Board doesn't know how to do their jobs or they don't want to get their hands dirty. The problem here is, if left unchecked, the management company will likely usurp the powers of the Board, thereby superseding the Board's authority. Just remember, THEY work for the nonprofit, not the other way around.

I am certainly not suggesting it is impossible to manage a nonprofit, you just need to remember it is a legal entity and must be handled professionally. This notion is often considered abrasive to a lot of naive people. However, a nonprofit is a legal entity in the eyes of the state and may be subject to taxes, financial liabilities, and lawsuits. Regardless of the intent of the nonprofit, if you take a professional business attitude to running it, the greater your chances are for success.

For more information, see my book, "How to Run a Nonprofit: It doesn't Require Rocket Science." This is a MUST READ for anyone associated with a nonprofit, particularly newbies and anyone interested in assuming authority as an officer.

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 © 2021 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.