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WHO IS REALLY DIVIDING THE COUNTRY?

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 28, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– It is not the President.

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


NOTE: I originally wrote the following article at the start of the summer. However, as we are now close to election day, I think it bears repeating.
 

Whenever you ask a member of the Left, why they hate President Trump, the Pavlovian response is normally, “Because he is dividing the country,” that he is “polarizing,” even labeling him the “Divider-in-Chief,” thereby painting him as a racist, a threat to the nation, and to the Constitution. This notion has been repeated so many times, it is now nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction. If you challenge these people to explain their rationale, the most likely response is, “He acts unpresidential.” The news media gladly endorses this premise and promotes its usage, but the question remains, is he really dividing the country? I simply do not see it.

I will not deny the president appeals more to the right, than the left, but it takes two to Tango, and it could be argued the division of the country widened more under President Obama, who appealed more to the Left and alienated conservatives. So much so, he refused to work with the Republican-led Congress at the time. We could track it back further to President Nixon’s Watergate investigation, or President Clinton’s impeachment, or the fundamental differences of President Carter vs. President Reagan, or the up-and-down differences between the Clinton/Bush/Obama administrations. No, the division in this country started well before President Trump, yet he is being blamed exclusively for it.

The Left and the news media encourage this notion of presidential divider. Just about every Democrat and media pundit have labeled him a, “Racist, Xenophobe, Homophobe, anti-feminist, Fascist, Nazi, etc.,” in the hopes these labels will somehow stick in the minds of voters. To a certain extent, they have, but mostly to the Left, and not the Right who simply does not buy it. Actually, use of these labels heightens anger issues on the Left, and the chasm between Left and Right grows larger.

President Trump is hardly any of these labels. For example, years ago his favor was frequently courted by black politicians who wanted donations for their political campaigns, which he gave, and his philanthropy for black related charities and projects, and again he gladly helped out. From this, he was awarded commendations from black organizations, such as the Muhammad Ali Entrepreneur Award (2007). However, since declaring his candidacy for President in 2015, the “racist” label somehow surfaced. The President has kidded he would still be popular with Democrat blacks today had he not decided to run for office.

If President Trump is guilty of anything, it is for running as an outsider against the Washington establishment, or as he refers to it as “The Swamp.” This includes politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists, the press, et al, who have been grazing peacefully on the taxpayer for many years. Because he challenges the corporate culture of the nation’s capitol, it is no small wonder he faces stiff resistance from everyone, but President Trump is undeterred and continues to push forward to straighten out Washington.

The news media particularly dislikes this president as he resists their control. He is frequently misquoted and maligned by the press. So much so, he found it necessary to do an end-run around the media to get his message to the masses, using social media, such as Twitter. This exacerbated the relationship between the media and the president, but Mr. Trump had no alternative. While some people are offended by the tone of the President’s Tweets, his supporters find it refreshing as they applaud him for standing up to the tyrannical press.

Then we have the matter of far-left groups who are much more divisive than the President. Groups like “Black Lives Matter,” can easily be accused of being racist as they do not embrace all races and chafe at the mention of “All Lives Matter.” Other organizations, such as Antifa, are dedicated to the overthrow of the United States and have adopted destructive tactics. Unlike these organizations, the President does not advocate burning, looting, and attacking people, yet he is the one accused of dividing the nation.

Interestingly, I find these young zealots possess no sense of American history or Civics (not to mention World History). They are uneducated and unsophisticated in such topics. Consequently, their naiveté makes it easy to manipulate them and use their energy for destructive purposes, such as the removal or defacing of historical markers. Because of their limited education, they are also quick to malign Capitalism and embrace Socialism.

Nothing seems to set the Left off better than a “Make America Great Again” hat. People who wear MAGA hats in support of their president are automatically accused of being racist by the Left. What we are witnessing is their attempt to control the dialog and dictate morality through political correctness. They are so boisterous about this, you are dismissed out of hand and not allowed to refute their argument. Clearly these are tactics of harassment and a genuine threat to freedom of speech. From the Left’s perspective, their sense of morality is the only thing that matters, and everyone else’s interpretation is evil and should be snuffed out. This too divides the country further.

Again, if the president is guilty of anything, it is that of being an outsider determined to bring pragmatic solutions to Washington DC, and the people there do not like it, as such, they zealously undermine him every step of the way. If this includes misleading the public, so be it. Make no mistake, we are embroiled in a cultural revolution, and when one person pushes, the whole organization pushes back.

No, President Trump is not a “Divider-in-Chief,” that is a complete misnomer. He is the one person standing up for the American taxpayer and wants to return some sanity to our government after several years of erosion. The Washington establishment wants to see him gone and will go to any lengths to take him down. They have tried to assassinate his character through the Russia investigation, which led to a pseudo impeachment trial; accused him of incompetence during the Coronavirus panic, and now assail his leadership during this time of racial tension and police conduct. However, we are now less than five months away from our presidential elections. If you think it has been a nasty fight thus far, you haven’t seen anything yet, as new charges and allegations will be leveled against the President from the Left. It will get worse before it gets better, but the president will stand his ground and fight back with the help of his supporters.

It’s going to be a long, hot summer and the demonstrators will not go away anytime soon as they hold the spotlight of the press. No, it is not President Trump who is trying to divide the country, it is the Left who is Hell-bent on his destruction, and the USA as we have known it.

One last note, the concept of “acting unpresidential” keeps buzzing through my head. Do we elect people to “act” or to take charge, make the tough decisions and get things done? I’ll take results over facade anytime, but I guess this is simply too divisive.

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.

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AND THE WINNER IS..

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 27, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– The answer may surprise you.

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

You might be interested to know, the winner of the 2020 presidential race will not be one of the declared candidates, but rather the news media. It doesn’t seem that long ago we had our first $1 Billion campaign, shocking everyone, but we are now well past this point. In fact, according to Opensecrets.org, which tracks campaign donations, 2020 will likely end up costing a whopping $11 Billion, thereby smashing all prior records, the last being 2016 where candidates spent up to $6.5 Billion. In the presidential campaigns alone, Opensecrets estimates approximately $5.2 Billion will have been spent, easily beating the 2008 election record of $2.8 Billion.

No matter how you slice it, it is an obscene amount of money to elect our government officials. Shouldn’t we be spending this money on something more useful?

Two reasons for the dramatic increase; first, the Democrats’ desperate attempt to re-take the White House and Congress (forcing the Republicans to respond in kind), and; Two, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the uptick. Because people felt house-bound, the candidates were impelled to reach out to voters through television, radio, Internet, print publications, and direct mail. Not surprising, Democrats are outspending Republicans considerably.

In this country, political campaigns fuel the media. Without such campaigns, the media would be crippled, and this is really what I want to discuss. Trust in journalism in this country continues to abate. According to a 2019 Gallup Poll, trust in the mass media has fallen from a high of 68% in 1972 to 41% in 2019 (I suspect it is even lower today). More and more people are going elsewhere for information rather than trusting the “Fake News.” It is a sad day when we trust social media over trained journalists, but such are the times we live in. In other words, despite the billions made by the Media Industrial Complex, the American public doesn’t feel they are getting their money’s worth.

The animosity dividing the country is less due to ideology, and more attributed to the main stream media. Instead of honest journalism in this country, we are offered up a plate of intrigue and anger by the media, which divides the country further. Consider this, put two groups of people in two separate rooms, one with news (with whatever form of media you prefer), and one without. The group exposed to the news will likely show signs of angst and frustration, the other will not.

Also, consider network news such as CNN, Fox, and MSNBC would likely be gone if it wasn’t for the money they receive from elections. So, it is in their best interests to “stir the pot” and keep their audiences on edge. By doing so, they develop addicts who tune in to get their daily fix of anger.

This is why I have long touted the need for electoral reform. The fact we find ourselves in a constant election cycle is not healthy for the candidates or the country. Our process is way too long and should be shortened radically, such as to 60 or 90 days, as is done in other countries. By doing so, politicians no longer have to be obsessed with canvassing for campaign donations and spend more time serving their constituents (which is why we elected them in the first place). It would also finally put some of these “Fake News” hacks out to pasture.

Don’t like shortening the cycle? How about for every dollar paid to the media, another dollar must be paid to a special fund for improving our infrastructure. This should cause politicians to rethink their campaign finances and, at the same time, would do some good for the country.

Just remember, the news media is the real winner of elections, not politicians. With the passing of each election, the news media becomes more massive and uncontrollable. It is long overdue for us to tame the beast that is dividing us.

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.

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WHY I’M VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP, PART 2

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 20, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– I’m still mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!

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

Four years ago, almost to the day, I wrote a similar column where I explained my reasons for supporting Donald Trump for president. In re-reading the article, I believe I was right on the money, but now it is four years later and I want to explain why I support the president in his bid for re-election.

In my 2016 piece, the first area I described was how the country was experiencing a myriad of problems, including the economy, immigration, security, jobs, trade, energy, morality, the military, a bureaucratic government inhibiting business, and much more. All of this is being effectively addressed by the president which he should be commended for, not chastised and berated. Today though, we could add to the list with things such as government gridlock, violence in the streets of our Democrat controlled inner cities, and attacks on law enforcement. This is precisely what we face going into the November elections. You either think a problem exists or acting like a lunatic is now an acceptable form of behavior. I, for one, do not.

Interestingly, I also mentioned in the 2016 piece, “We are also moving dangerously closer to socialism and away from capitalism…” Very prophetic.

The second point I mentioned was that Mr. Trump was neither a community organizer or professional politician, but a businessman who understands competition and possesses such skills as negotiation, risk management, managing by objectives, finance, labor relations, human resources, recruiting, project management, and other related skills. These talents have proven effective in developing the economy, rescuing our military and VA, and negotiating trade deals, particularly the USMCA.

Third, I mentioned it was time to take back America from the professional politicians, aka, “The Swamp,” and this is where most of the angst against the president originates from. Frankly, the Democrats, the RINOs, and bureaucrats of Washington, DC are scared to death of him and are still hell-bent on his destruction. Fortunately, the American patriots are still behind him and will likely sweep him back into office.

Today though, I want to add a fourth reason for voting for him, and that is the president has delivered on his campaign promises, implementing policies stalled by other presidents, such as:

* Opening the Jerusalem Embassy.

* Signing Middle East Peace Treaties.

* Crushing ISIS.

* Building the southern border wall and curbing illegal immigration.

* Implementing energy independence.

* Reinvigorating the military and VA.

* Energizing our economy and helping to create jobs for everyone, particularly minorities.

* Implementing tax cuts for the citizens.

* Nominating three Supreme Court justices and hundreds of federal judges. This means, win or lose, we’ll feel the effect of President Trump for many years afterwards.

All of this in spite of the Mueller Witch Hunt, the Russia Hoax, the Impeachment Hoax, and Fake News. His fortitude and ability to stand up to the House of Representatives and the Main Stream Media is truly admirable and should be assimilated by others.

What I find most fascinating with this president is that he is unafraid to make the tough decisions. Whereas other presidents would ignore nagging problems and bury them under the carpet, President Trump is not afraid to tackle the issues. It is this results orientation I particularly admire, and why I will be voting for him again. His no-nonsense business acumen is precisely what we need right now. In addition to his toughness and genius, he has shown genuine empathy for the American people time and time again.

In my 2016 article, I also mentioned the 1976 movie, “Network,” where the anchorman, played by Peter Finch, goes on camera to encourage people to say, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” After watching the summer of hate, gridlock in the Congress, and the Democrats hell-bent on the overthrow of the presidency, I too am mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore, but unlike the Democrats who spurn law and order, I’m going to make my voice heard at my election precinct.

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.

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JOE BIDEN’S DILEMMA

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 15, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– Caught between a rock and a hard place.

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Joe Biden is caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, he desperately wants to be seen as a man of the working class, it is where he feels most comfortable. On the other hand, he needs the support of the far-left in order to capture the presidency, and this is a group of people he feels least comfortable with, but must work with them. Senator Sanders and AOC claim Mr. Biden is on their side, but they know they have to push him should he win, which also explains why Sen. Kamala Harris, voted the most liberal Senator in 2019, was asked to be his running mate. Harris will play a pivotal role should Mr. Biden win the election, simply by being a watch dog and pushing him to the left.

As to the middle class the Democrats once controlled, it was hijacked by Donald Trump in 2016. He has successfully forged an alliance with moderates and his approval rating is improving among Latinos, Asians, African-Americans, and women. This explains why Mr. Biden has been trying to target these groups in his latest round of television ads.

The former VP’s “Made in America” campaign slogan is copied from the Trump campaign. The only problem is that his proposed tax increases will force American companies to move offshore again, taking their jobs with them. If elected, Mr. Biden will also negate the Trump Executive Orders to minimize bureacracy, thereby throwing gasoline on the fire. So he really cannot pitch to the middle class as his policies will ultimately hurt them, particularly the Green New Deal he is being forced to embrace (even though he really doesn’t want to).

Aside from the economy, middle America is very much concerned with law and order, including all racial persuasions. Unfortunately, no law enforcement agency is willing to endorse Mr. Biden as he is viewed as the party of Antifa and Black Lives Matter, and all of the violence and mayhem associated with them. This represents the Achilles heel of his campaign. Ultimately, it means the American public does not trust him to safeguard the populace.

Let us also not forget Mr. Biden is not popular with the military. Anyone remember the 2012 Benghazi attack? It stained the reputations of President Obama, Sec. Clinton, and VP Biden who were blamed for this deadly fiasco. Further, the VA was considered broken under the Obama/Biden administration. Military people are more likely to embrace President Trump than Mr. Biden, as the president has rebuilt both the military and the VA, not to mention reduced our involvement in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Following Donald Trump’s stay at Walter Reed Hospital, the President told the country “Don’t be afraid” of the COVID-19 virus and tackle it head on instead. The media and the left thought this was incredibly wrong. However, Trump’s bravado played well with the American people who respect a strong person. It’s a glass half full of water as opposed to half empty type of phenomenon, and the people gravitated to his positivity. This is not the image Mr. Biden projects.

Mr. Biden has made a deal with the devil to get elected, and he must now live with it. He is hoping the hatred of the country to President Trump will carry the day, but the reality is only the far left possesses this intense anger, not middle America, the group is primarily interested in the economy and law enforcement. You know, the “silent majority” of people who vote more than any other group.

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.

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SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 13, 2020

BRYCE ON LIFE

– Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS).

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

Years ago, as my father transitioned into becoming a senior, he remarked that his mantra was now, “Simplify, Simplify!” He had traveled around the world, owned luxury cars, fancy boats, jewelry and clothes, but none of that mattered to him anymore. All he wanted was just to divest himself of those things causing him anxiety and just enjoy a simple life which included a good meal, drink, and conversation. Being known as a fighter in his chosen field of endeavor, we found this notion of his to be rather unusual and out of character. Interestingly, I find myself now embracing his mantra and look to simplify my life.

Like my father, I no longer impress easily. I have seen quite a bit of the world, met and worked with all kinds of clients and had an impact on my profession, both through the printed word and lectures. I now enjoy simple pleasures, such as a good cigar, a good drink, and good conversation. I don’t need a big car anymore, just something that is easy to maintain, reliable, and gets good fuel efficiency. For entertainment, I still enjoy fly-fishing whenever I can sneak away. There are two other things I have done to simplify my life:

First, after 56 years I finally mowed my lawn for the last time. My aging riding mower recently broke down irreparably. I was so disheartened by this that I wanted to take my gun and shoot it in the engine, finally ending its misery. My choices are either to attempt to repair the mower (which would certainly be an expensive proposition), buy a new one, or turn the lawn care over to one of the Mexican contractors who mow lawns in the neighborhood. After much thought, I decided to habla Espanol, “Si, si, senor.” I thought I would have second thoughts about doing this, but since making the decision I have felt a huge burden lifted from my shoulders. I will still go out and hedge and prune bushes and other activities, but the weekly grind of mowing and edging a lawn is finally over.

The second thing I did was resign from the Board of Directors of my Home Owners Association (HOA). Some of you may remember I made a vow to stop participating on nonprofit Board of Directors a few years ago. I broke that vow after our HOA raised our dues astronomically and I became its Secretary to help clean up the mess. Although I had no problem with the administration of the new Board, I was still not happy with how the finances were being accounted for and felt betrayed. Consequently, I resigned as opposed to being made party to what I considered a sham. I felt my time and reputation were more important than participating in a bumbling board of directors. So far, my instincts have proven correct.

Aside from these two items, I find I am now more inclined to throw something in the garbage than clutter my home with it. Whether it is something in the garage or in the house, I have developed a keen eye for the flotsam and jetsam that surrounds me. Everything else I try to keep in good working order, but simple.

As a result of all this, I find myself mentally and physically more at ease, which is what my father was originally driving at. By keeping it simple, I have less to worry about and can focus on other, more pleasurable, things. Now where did I put that fly-rod of mine?

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.

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UNITY? DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 8, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– Fasten your seat belts…

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

I recently saw an ad from former VP Joe Biden’s campaign which claimed people should vote for him as he will unify the nation. Thank God I wasn’t drinking milk at the time as it would have shot out of my nose from laughter. To be fair though, both the Democrats and Republicans claim their candidates will unify the country. Everyone wants it but on their terms or not at all. As nice as unity may sound, the reality is the country is not ready or willing yet to unite, there is simply too many fundamental differences between right and left.

To illustrate, whereas the right embraces capitalism, Christianity, the constitution, and conservative values (e.g., respect for law and order, citizenship, patriotism, strong work ethic), the left embraces Socialism, entitlements, globalism, and social engineering. Whereas the right relishes the freedoms spelled out in our Constitution, the left wants to rewrite it for the purposes of more control. For example, when President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court justice, the Democrats threatened to expand the size of the court and pack it with liberals. This was tried years ago under FDR, and was thankfully rejected. Even the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a well known darling of the left, said nine justices was a suitable number.

These two distinctly different ideologies ultimately represent incompatible behaviors, moral values, and priorities. The media refutes this and would have us believe everyone is basically the same. This is simply not so as the chasm between left and right is too wide and cannot be bridged.

Some would say the split was caused by President Trump. I would argue it began during President Obama’s administration. Republicans may not have liked Mr. Obama, but they didn’t burn down any cities, loot stores, cause riots and hurt people, or conduct massive protests. They just waited for the next election and voted accordingly.

The big question though is, what will happen should either side win. Should former VP Biden win, a new resistance movement will likely emerge in the Congress by the Republicans, using tactics invented by the Democrats. However, should President Trump win re-election, the Democrats will continue to resist the president in the Congress, but the loony left will likely go berserk and try to burn the nation to the ground. This will likely be the closest we come to Civil War. Shootings will likely occur. Plain and simple, it will be ugly.

Should the Democrats lose both the Congress and the White House, look for them to split into two parties; one for the far left and one for the old-school moderates. When this happens, it will take the Democrats a long time for them to return to power, if at all.

So, when you hear a candidate say they want to unify the country, please do not take them seriously. It is not in the American character to play as a united team, unless we face war or some other serious calamity.

As I like to say around this time of year; fasten your seat belts, it is going to be a bumpy ride.

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.

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ACTING ON OUR PERCEPTION OF REALITY

Posted by Tim Bryce on October 1, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– An explanation for the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).

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

I have been a fan of the Youtube! video platform for quite some time. It has just about everything I want, such as movies, comedy, sports, history, music, news, food, and much more. Lately though, I stumbled upon a series of videos featuring people who appear to have lost their minds on camera, be it:

* Angry Ladies in different situations.

* Irate Woman on an airplane flight.

* A woman flips out at a Planet Fitness.

* A good example of road rage.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of such videos through Youtube! For me, it is like watching a train wreck. The stupidity of the people is mind-boggling, making the video somewhat addictive to watch, e.g.; “How will they screw up this time?” From these videos I noted three common characteristics:

1. The people are ready and willing to engage in verbal fisticuffs at the drop of a hat. Civility is sacrificed for obnoxious and uncouth behavior. Their loudness and coarseness doesn’t bother them one bit and consider it a normal form of behavior.

2. They believe they know the law and their rights better than the authorities. So much so, when the tables are turned, and they are arrested, they cannot comprehend why. Also notice, it never occurs to them they might be wrong.

3. They are very self-centered and do not care about the rights of others, such as causing a public scene or blocking traffic. Their perceived rights take precedence over everyone else, giving them a self-righteous attitude and sense of entitlement. In other words, they honestly believe they are smarter and everyone should bow to them.

All of this is a formula causing them to go berserk at a moment’s notice. Basically, they are trying to impose their sense of reality and morality on everyone else, even if it is incorrect. This is the basis for my thesis, “Homo Sapien Ass****” (HSA) which I wrote years ago. In it, I contended an HSA is a person who acts in a seemingly absurd manner towards others based on their erroneous perception of reality either for personal gain or to react to a situation. Our perception of reality dictates our actions. For example, we dress according to how we believe the weather will be; if we believe it will be cold, we will wear a warm coat. However, if our perception is wrong, that the weather is actually quite hot and humid, wearing a warm coat would be considered a foolish decision. A false perception of reality is one of the underpinnings of HSA and can be caused by such things as attention deficit disorder (easily distracted), or by our own sense of worth (ego).

So the challenge becomes to act according to the proper perception. If we do not, we will lose our cool, as the people did in the videos, and not act responsibly or respectfully, just obnoxious at whatever the cost. In other words, HSA’s cannot socialize effectively.

One last conclusion, the people shown in the videos must either be Democrats or members of the press as their perceptions are different than main stream America and act as HSAs, also known as the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). Here are some videos featuring people with TDS; notice how they essentially act no different than the people in the first set of videos:

* A liberal woman screams and has a meltdown over the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

* A woman suffers a car accident while flipping off a rally of Trump supporters.

* A shop owner goes berserk with a Trump patron.

In these last videos, the angst of the protagonists is triggered by anyone who flagrantly opposes their viewpoint or sense of reality. The outbursts are actually Pavlovian in nature thanks to repetitive training by the main stream media. None of these people will tolerate an opposing opinion, thereby possessing a closed mind. All of this highlights the strength of the media which is actually quite scary.

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.

 

Posted in Politics | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

DEATH STEPS IN AGAIN AND AGAIN

Posted by Tim Bryce on September 29, 2020

BRYCE ON LIFE

– I’ve been losing too many friends lately.

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

I lost my wife in December. If that wasn’t hard enough to bear, I also lost six good freinds 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.

 

Posted in Life | Tagged: , , , , | 5 Comments »

WHY AMERICA SUCCEEDS

Posted by Tim Bryce on September 24, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– It is more than just dumb luck.

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

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.

 

Posted in Politics | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

A LESSON FROM THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

Posted by Tim Bryce on September 22, 2020

BRYCE ON POLITICS

– Demonstrates the difference between capitalism and socialism.

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

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.

 

Posted in Politics | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

 
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