THE MYTH OF EQUALITY

BRYCE ON LIFE

- More than anything, equality is about ego.

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The Declaration of Independence tells us that all men are created equal, but we sure don't want to be treated as such when we get older. Americans steadfastly and openly proclaim their belief in the concept of equality, yet adamantly refuse to be treated in this manner. Equality, therefore, is an American myth and one reason why we tend to act more like stubborn individualists as opposed to team players. Being treated equally and fairly sounds nice, but it's a matter of who knows who, and what we can do for each other (aka, "Politics 101").

Waiting in line is a good example of everyone being treated equally; basically, everyone waits their turn in line, but inevitably there are people who want to cut in line, or go directly to the front of it and are willing to pay handsomely to do so. Celebrities and the rich pay for special privileges, e.g.; to get the best table in a restaurant, the best medical treatment, legal breaks, free drinks, and the best seat in the house.

Equality in business is definitely a myth. First, you have to understand companies act more like dictatorships as opposed to democratic institutions. We use job titles to differentiate people and reflect the chain of command. Organization charts, which depicts a hierarchy, represents documented proof that people are not equal, even if it is nothing more than a management versus labor relationship.

Even in nonprofit organizations and fraternal groups that openly promote the concept of equality, you will not find it. Instead, you have people craving recognition through titles, sashes, badges, pins, and other such nonsense, thereby trying to delineate themselves from everyone else. Basically, it's a game of one-upmanship. As an aside, I find it amusing when a a person who didn't accomplish anything in their professional career, tries to find glory and power through nonprofit organizations. I refer to this as "much ado about nothing."

There are three areas where people try to differentiate themselves:

* Their physical attributes, such as strength, size, abilities, and appearance.

* Their intellect whereby we try to discern who is smarter than who.

* Their social attributes, which is probably the most powerful of the three, as defined by wealth, personal connections, social standing, and conduct.

More than anything, equality is about ego and we are taught at an early age not to be just be as good as someone else, but to be better than them; and if you cannot be better than them, then undermine them every chance you get. Compare this to the Japanese who are taught at any early age to work together collectively towards common goals. Even as you enter the workforce you are placed on an even footing with others in your "class." It is only after a number of years working at the company (ten normally) when it is decided what your position and job title will be. The Japanese may not tout equality in their culture as much as the Americans do, but it is much more ingrained in them than the Americans.

In the United States, we have a lot of rights, we have a lot of rules, but we really don't have as much equality as people believe we do, which is why I call it a myth. You might have an understanding about racial, gender, and social rights, but you will never have equality in the minds of the American masses. So, please put down the placards saying you want equality. Don't make me laugh. You don't want equality, you want to leapfrog ahead.

I am reminded of the story of the ant and the aardvark who happened upon one and other on the street. The ant being somewhat nervous about the aardvark's intentions said to him, "Brother Aardvark, it is good to see you. We are both creatures of the earth, we both drink the same water and breath the same air. We're equals." The aardvark shot out his long sticky tongue and devoured the ant in the blink of an eye, burped, and replied, "I'm afraid you've been misinformed my boy."

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  BECOMING AN EDUCATED VOTER - How to become conversant in politics and government.

LAST TIME:  FAILING TO ACT - It goes well beyond insanity.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

FAILING TO ACT

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- It goes well beyond insanity.

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One of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein is his definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I'm afraid we see this too often, be it in companies, government or the general public. In other words, there is a tendency for people to maintain the status quo even if it doesn't produce beneficial results, or even if it is counter productive.

In Europe, following a terrorist attack, we commonly see a government official say afterwards what a hideous crime this was, that security levels are being heightened, and the public should remain calm and not pass judgement on any cultural group. It has become a common script, but for some reason it doesn't seem to deter terrorists. In other words, nothing changes.

Like so many nonprofit organizations these days, I know of a local group who year after year has been losing membership at a rate of about 1,500 members a year. Over the last fifteen years, it has declined a whopping 37%. Members are seeking answers to reverse this, but the leadership of the group has yet to properly address the problem. Instead, they keep asking for more money from its dwindling membership. Again, nothing changes.

In the world of Information Technology, companies commonly rush off to program a solution before they even understand the business systems problem. Consequently, developers devise a quick and dirty solution to the wrong problem, projects are late and over budget, and end-users lose confidence in I.T. If we built bridges the same way we build systems in this country, this would be a nation run by ferryboats. Interestingly, developers are aware this approach doesn't work but lament, "We never have enough time to do things right." Translation: "We have plenty of time to do things wrong." Once again, nothing changes.

I'm sure we can all think of some similar scenarios from our walks through life, be it in school, on the ball fields, our place of work, in stores, in our neighborhoods, just about everywhere.

I tend to believe a lot of this occurs simply because we have trouble focusing on the proper problem, that it is less painful to take the easiest way out. Instead of going for a touchdown, we settle for a field goal instead.

Repeating the same mistake in the face of reality confirms Einstein's definition. It's more than insanity though, it is reckless and irresponsible behavior on the part of management. Changing the status quo is a difficult task, something that should only be charged to someone sensitive to problems and realize it is time to change. What is needed is political courage to make the hard decision, which will likely be unpopular until proven successful. I am certainly not someone who believes in change for the sake of change, but if there is undeniable evidence the status quo is not producing positive results, by God, somebody better get off their duff and do something about it before it results in irreparable harm.

Somehow I am reminded of another quote I am fond of, this from President Andrew Jackson, "Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in."

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  THE MYTH OF EQUALITY - More than anything, equality is about ego.

LAST TIME:  IS WAR INEVITABLE? - Will the Union survive?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

IS WAR INEVITABLE?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Will the Union survive?

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These are troubling times. We have Islamic terrorists who would like nothing better than to snuff out the rest of the world. We have a tin-horn dictator in North Korea with access to nuclear devices. And we have other crackpot third world regimes thirsty for power and enslave their people. At home, we have two diametrically opposed ideologies at each other's throats, with no room for compromise. It occurred to me recently we have been hearing these same stories day after day for quite some time now.

Now the big question, does anybody see this changing for the better any time soon? Seriously. There is no doubt we could eliminate key world leaders and terrorists if we had the will to do so, but what about at home? Liberals won't be satisfied until they usurp the U.S. Constitution. The election of Donald Trump as president was a major setback for them and they are now desperate to take the government by hook or by crook. They have opened their bag of dirty tricks and will literally say and do anything to reverse the control by the Republicans.

They are making a mistake though; Middle America is growing weary of their "resistance," which includes protests, anarchy, stalling tactics in Congress, misrepresentations in the news media, and even distasteful humor. All of this affects our quality of life. Instead of offering alternatives to the Republican agenda, they offer nothing more than attack politics. Whatever comes out of President Trump's mouth, whether it is a policy speech, an off-remark, or even a burp, is slandered by the Left as un-American. By vilifying the president, they hope to link Republican congressmen inseparably to him, thereby hoping the hatred for the president will be carried forward. The mantra will be, "A vote for Congressman X is a vote for Donald Trump."

There is one problem with this strategy, it won't work as Liberals underestimate voters from the heartland, which will cost Democrats the 2018 mid-term elections. This will throw them into a state of shock, much greater than losing the 2016 presidential race, and then our problems will worsen.

If the Democrats are soundly defeated, their shock will turn to anger, and this is when our country could erupt. It will go way beyond demonstrations and heated remarks, and likely lead to violent confrontations. It may even go so far as to cause liberal states such as California, Oregon, and Washington to seek to secede from the Union as they will no longer tolerate Republican control in the nation's Capitol. Troops will likely have to be summoned to maintain the peace and seceding states may face martial law.

It would be nice to believe we could unify despite our differences, but this is not happening as America is too sharply divided. Nor do I see how we can continue to operate our government as a logjam. We are simply not making any progress one way or another.

The rhetoric we are hearing today is reminiscent of the passionate Congressional arguments pertaining to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 which dealt with the future of slavery. whereas the arguments then were concerned with a single issue, today we have arguments across the board regarding such things as illegal immigration, sanctuary cities, climate control, entitlements, religious and racial divides, education, job creation, and much more, all of which has led us to an era of gridlock.

Another Civil War is certainly feasible, some would say it has already started. I, for one, believe it is not only inevitable, but at this stage, it is inescapable. Somebody please tell me I am wrong.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  FAILING TO ACT - It goes well beyond insanity.

LAST TIME:  THE ABSENCE OF ELECTRONICS - "Imagine no cell phones, it's easy if you try, no PC's or TV's, above us, only sky."

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE ABSENCE OF ELECTRONICS

BRYCE ON TECHNOLOGY

- "Imagine no cell phones, it's easy if you try, no PC's or TV's, above us, only sky."

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

While I was driving home one night, I was stopped at a traffic light and began to imagine what life would be like without the many electronic conveniences we enjoy. Hmm...

As a Floridian, we are accustomed to losing power due to tropical storms and hurricanes, which tends to annoy us by living without such things as air conditioning and television, as well as the loss of food maintained in the refrigerator. Schools close in such situations and are often converted to shelters. Other than this, life basically goes on as usual, but what if it turned into a permanent condition? What if some sort of electronic virus infiltrated all of our computers, phones, and other electronic gadgetry, and somehow shut them all done?

Our first concern would be whether our military could continue to defend our country effectively, that our hospitals could properly function, and that we could feed the populace adequately. It would be like the premise used in the movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still," except it would be for an extended period of time. Assuming we could accommodate these situations though, what would life be like without electronics?

For starters, you might think that automobile traffic would snarl up as all of our traffic lights would be out of commission. Inevitably, traffic cops would have to be dispatched to key intersections and we would actually get some intelligent traffic control in place (better than the preprogrammed lights). For minor intersections, we would have to start practicing basic driving courtesy again and, God forbid, cooperate with and respect other drivers. I suspect traffic accidents and fatalities would actually go down.

So far, so good.

If televisions and computers were knocked out, people would be forced to read, write and speak again. Kids would have to come out of their caves and into the sunlight, pick up a ball and get a little exercise and socialize. We would all still be craving some form of entertainment and, because of this, you might see more picnics, concerts in the park, and other civic functions. Attendance at school functions, such as the PTA and SAC, would be stimulated, and parents would become actively involved in the welfare of their children again. Participation in other nonprofit groups would undoubtedly flourish as well. Basically, our socialization skills would improve and we would become more conscious of our civic duties.

As mentioned, food would be a problem; we would have to learn to shop more frequently and prepare meals differently, and we would have to learn the lost art of baking and cooking. No doubt, we would miss all of those highly nutritious microwave meals and snacks. "What, no more Hot Pockets??!"

We would become healthier as we would have more time for exercise and play games like tennis, golf, softball, or whatever without Wii. This should cause health insurance rates to go down.

Since computers would be out of commission, the unemployment rate would go down because we would need more clerical people for such things as filing, typing, preparing graphics, processing orders, etc.

Our personal debt would probably go away as we would be unable to process credit cards and, as such, we would be wiser in the use of our cash.

Our sex lives would improve as evidenced by the power outages of New York. The only downside is it would probably result in a population explosion if we don't properly promote birth control.

Due to a change in our diet and having to be forced to improve our socialization skills, maybe we can finally get people off of drugs like Prozac, Xanax, and Valium.

And finally, the cost of living would go down as we are no longer having to pay for all of the electronic luxuries we are accustomed to.

All of this illustrates our addiction to electronics and their manipulative powers. Life would be cheaper, more healthy, and perhaps more industrious, but it would certainly not be as fast-paced or complicated than what we are familiar with, but then again, would this be a problem?

Maybe the rallying cry would be a variation of John Lennon's song, "Imagine" -

"Imagine no cell phones, it's easy if you try, no PC's or TV's, above us, only sky.
Imagine all the people, living life in peace."

Yes sir, the best thing that could happen to this country is to have a virus that knocked out our technology...

Then the light changed, I snapped out of it, and drove home.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  IS WAR INEVITABLE? - Will the Union survive?

LAST TIME:  BEWARE OF THE WHIZ KIDS - Why you should keep a tight reign on your young Mustangs.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

BEWARE OF THE WHIZ KIDS

BRYCE ON BUSINESS

- Why you should keep a tight reign on your young Mustangs.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

Back in the 1980's a generation of young MBA's were unleashed on the corporate world and turned it on its ear. These "whiz kids" slashed costs wherever possible, particularly in training programs, mentoring, and reduced administrative personnel. Although their tactics did indeed save money in the short run, they created long-term headaches down the road, such as creating morale problems which lead to a disconnect between workers and their employers, which ultimately lead to outsourcing many jobs overseas. Quality in manufactured goods and services also suffered as a result of less training. Whereas employees had previously been empowered to overcome problems under a spirit of teamwork, managers began to closely supervise workers which today is commonly referred to as "micromanagement." The point is, the whiz kids of the day made a name for themselves simply by implementing short term changes which were highly visible on the next quarterly P&L statement. Although they could show short-term benefits rather quickly, their bean counter approach had devastating long-term effects on many businesses which haunted companies for years.

Today, a new generation of whiz kids have emerged in corporate America who are again charged with turning things around in their companies. Basically, management is hoping to groom their next generation of managers by allowing these "phenoms" to shake things up. Whoever is successful moves up the corporate ladder in much the same way as Donald Trump's old show "The Apprentice." Realizing they have only a limited time to make a difference, such as six months before they have to move on to their next assignment, they tend to slash costs as opposed to nurturing something new, and God help anyone who gets in their way.

Case in point, I have a friend who for several years has been a supplier to a local division of a Fortune 500 company. Over the years he has developed an excellent relationship with the company who trusts him in terms of securing quality industrial supplies for their manufacturing floor at affordable prices. My friend's company developed a reputation for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve his client and keep the Fortune 500 division happy. It wasn't cutthroat pricing that sustained the relationship, but competitive pricing coupled with excellent service and prompt delivery. Frankly, this was a classic example of a win-win relationship between two companies where everyone was satisfied until four whiz kids came to town and tried to make a name for themselves.

The company had allotted a sizable sum of money to refurbish the plant. Understandably, my friend's company wanted to bid on a portion of it. A detailed proposal was prepared and submitted by my friend who was told by his inside contacts that his bid looked to be the best. Regrettably, my friend's proposal was rejected by the whiz kids, not because it wasn't competitively priced, not because he couldn't deliver on time, and not because he was quoting inferior materials. Instead, the whiz kids explained to him that his company had won more than its fair share of bids with their company and, consequently, another vendor would be selected. This of course did not sit well with my friend, nor his inside contacts who knew the proposal was the best. Regardless, the whiz kids were bent on getting a lower bid thereby demonstrating their ability to cut costs regardless of whatever feathers they ruffled. After all, they knew they would be transferred somewhere to another division in a few months.

My friend was not going to take this rejection sitting down. Consequently, he arranged a meeting with the whiz kids, their superiors, and his inside contacts. During the course of the meeting, my friend provided a chronology of his company's relationship with the division. He enumerated the many projects his company had worked on, what they had saved the client in terms of money and the services they provided on a gratis basis. The testimonies by his inside contacts added to his credibility. Bottom-line, he gave evidence his company had worked in good faith with the division to save them money and provide quality materials to the satisfaction of all concerned. Management thanked my friend for his presentation and years of service, and informed him they would notify him soon of their decision.

One can only speculate as to what happened next. Suffice it to say, the whiz kids were reprimanded for threatening to disrupt a healthy business relationship, and sent packing to their next assignment. Had it not been for my friend's tenacity, not only would his company had lost considerable business, but the Fortune 500 division would have lost a trusted business partner.

The point is, whiz kids walk a dangerous tightrope. They cannot expect to simply come in and slash and burn existing programs and not expect someone to challenge them. True, large companies need to groom the next generation of managers but I question the wisdom of assigning people to such short term assignments where they may make some crippling decisions by mistake. In my friend's case, he took them to task, but there are a lot of people who would not, hence the problems we experienced in the 1980's. Perhaps the biggest problem I have with the whiz kids phenomenon is that it encourages quick and dirty thinking as opposed to long-range planning.

There is nothing wrong with having some young Mustangs running in the herd, they just need to be watched carefully or they'll start a stampede in the wrong direction.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  THE ABSENCE OF ELECTRONICS - "Imagine no cell phones, it's easy if you try, no PC's or TV's, above us, only sky."

LAST TIME:  MEDIA MONITORS: SPINNING THE SPIN - Another reason why the press is not fair and balanced.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

MEDIA MONITORS: SPINNING THE SPIN

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Another reason why the press is not fair and balanced.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

According to recent polls, the news media has been taking a pounding in terms of losing credibility with the American public. People no longer trust the press as they see it as nothing more than a cog in an ideology machine as opposed to a trustworthy source of unbiased information. From this, the concept of "fake News" has emerged, causing people to look for news from other outlets, such as social media, which is also not necessarily the most reliable.

As if the press isn't bad enough by itself, there are other forces at play to manipulate the public's perception of news, namely media watchdogs on the Internet, scrutinizing both liberal and conservative voices. With the exception of MRC, these organizations are not members of the press but rather keep a close eye on news related television and radio personalities. Their intent is to note and refute the stories of the opposition. In their own unique way, they spin the spin of the news media, thereby clouding the accuracy of news even further.

Four such institutions come to mind, two pro-liberal, and two pro-conservative:

MEDIA MATTERS (Liberal)
According to its web site, "Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media." Launched in 2004 by political commentator David Brock, Media Matters was started with funding from sympathizers of the Democratic party, such as George Soros and MoveOn.org.

In addition to analyzing conservative stories, Media Matters helps organize boycotts of conservative news shows, such as the recent push against Sean Hannity. In their May 23, 2017 report, they describe the Fox News talk show host as "a professional propagandist for President Donald Trump, as well as a bigot, a sexist, and a conspiracy theorist."

Although Media Matters avoids the use of the word "boycott," there is no doubt as to their intent. They list Hannity's advertisers, as well as those they claim will no longer advertise on his show. Whether the lists shown are accurate or not is anyone's guess, but it is obvious they would like to see Hannity gone.

FAIR - Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (Liberal)
Started in 1984, FAIR is another 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded by Jeff Cohen and Martin A. Lee, with roots in academia. On its web site, FAIR also describes itself as a "national media watch group," and openly defines themselves as a "progressive group." FAIR appears to be more bullish in terms of protecting 1st Amendment Rights than Media Matters, claiming to be anti-censorship.

In addition to written stories, FAIR produces a weekly podcast, "Counterspin," to discuss media topics. The broadcast is professionally prepared, but critical of President Trump and conservative causes. Donations to FAIR are tax-deductible.

MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER (MRC) (Conservative)
Launched in 1987 by political commentator L. Brent Bozell III, a nephew of the late William F. Buckley, Jr, MRC claims its sole mission is "to expose and neutralize the propaganda arm of the Left: the national news media." On its web page, the company claims to receive "no government grants or contracts nor do we have an endowment. We raise our funds each year from individuals, foundations, and corporations."

MRC has blossomed over the years to include several arms, including: cnsnews.com, mrcNewsBusters, mrcBusiness, mrcCulture, mrcLatino, mrcTV, and mrcAction, all of which aimed at debunking liberal bias in the media.

MEDIA EQUALIZER (Conservative)
The newcomer of the media critics. Founded in 2014 by Brian Maloney and Melanie Morgan, two West Coast newscasters, Media Equalizer produces a blog and claims to be readying a new media channel over the Internet. Their forte is responding to liberal criticisms of conservative talk radio.
 

All of this represents a unique situation where liberals and conservatives analyze the opposition in the hopes of holding them accountable for their political reporting. Their criticism of the opposition is often used to form talking points. Aside from this, it is not uncommon for them to try and rally their readers to oppose specific news entities, either by boycott or by writing refutations of politicians and news personalities. All of this adds to the static of the news thereby making it difficult to ascertain legitimate stories and analysis and, as a result, further diminishing the public trust of the press.

Some time ago, I wrote about "The Liberal Playbook," describing the tools on the Internet used by the Left to organize their resistance movement. The liberal media watch institutions mentioned herein are also an important part of this. It also appears the liberals are being more effective in their use of such facilities than their conservative counterparts.

Surprisingly, the general public has no idea such institutions exist, but they represent an important reason why we no longer trust the news being presented to us. If news was truly fair and balanced, such web sites would never have emerged. The fact that they do exist not only suggests a problem does indeed exist within the press, but compounds the problem further.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  BEWARE OF THE WHIZ KIDS - Why you should keep a tight reign on your young Mustangs.

LAST TIME:  EQUALITY OF DRIVING - We meet on the level, and drive upon the square.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

EQUALITY OF DRIVING

BRYCE ON LIFE

- We meet on the level, and drive upon the square.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

Whenever I have somewhere to go with friends or family, I normally volunteer to drive. When people ask me why I do so, I explain it is not simply because I enjoy the act of driving, as much as I somehow appreciate the equality involved. Let me explain. It occurred to me a long time ago that driving is one of the few venues in the world that doesn't recognize a socioeconomic class structure, race or religion. Regardless if you are a multimillionaire driving a Rolls Royce or Lamborghini, a bum driving a jalopy, or anything in-between, driving requires everyone to behave equally. Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, everyone is on the level and must behave as such in order for this important transportation system to work. And for some reason, knowing I can start each day on the level with everyone else is encouraging to me.

Some people are easily wowed when they see an expensive automobile on the road. Frankly, I couldn't care less what you drive or who you think you are. We're all equal on the road as any member of the Law Enforcement community can attest. They only care the rules are being observed and traffic is flowing unimpeded. Other than that, they are unconcerned with your stature, regardless if you are a politician, celebrity, millionaire, or whatever.

Some see driving as analogous to socialism whereby we must all move along on the roadways equally. Well, not quite. I see it more akin to capitalism where I can drive as ambitiously or lackadaisically as I am inclined to be, not to mention courteous or rude. Nonetheless, I am responsible for my actions. If I decide to drive recklessly, I may incur a moving violation or perhaps worse, an accident. In this event, I will have to pay the bill, not the other motorists. To my way of thinking, I see each day as another chapter where I must get from point A to point B in the most efficient means possible. In other words, a capitalistic race to the top.

My grandfather, who moved to this country from England following the first World War, also loved to drive his car everywhere. So much so, he would even drive his car down the block just to post a letter in the mailbox. His car was his pride and joy, and he would go to great lengths to keep it clean and running smoothly. His pride of ownership clearly demonstrated he was a capitalist.

The one bit of satisfaction I get on the highway is when I either outmaneuver the millionaire in the Lamborghini or watch him get a ticket for speeding. Either way, I realize the system works. Yep, I'm a capitalist too.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  MEDIA MONITORS: SPINNING THE SPIN - Another reason why the press is not fair and balanced.

LAST TIME:  HOW WE ARE JUDGED - Describing how we size people up.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

HOW WE ARE JUDGED

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Describing how we size people up.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

Ever wonder why people treat you the way they do? A lot has to do with how you are perceived by others. Let me give you an example, years ago when I lived in Cincinnati, Ohio I would often drive up to Canada to visit customers along The King's Highway 401 in lower Ontario. My point of entry and exit was Detroit and I would either take the Ambassador Bridge or Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to and from Canada. Regardless of the route I took, I noticed I would always be asked by the customs agents to pull my car over to the side where I would have to endure the hassle of a search. This went on for years until I realized it was probably my demeanor and expression on my face that caused me to be pulled over, which was tired and cranky looking. As an experiment, I approached the customs agents with a smile on my face, my window down, and was very chatty and approachable with them. Surprisingly, I was let through without any trouble, and I've never been pulled over again.

The point is, we primarily act on our perceptions, right or wrong, and regardless of the facts. How we are perceived by others is the basis by which others judge us, both in our personal and professional lives. It has been my experience that there are three attributes people use to judge each other:

1. Social Stature - representing our pedigree and, consequently, our place in society. People naturally act differently around someone who is perceived to be cultured and refined versus someone viewed as "trailer trash." Its kind of like the difference of how people act in church as opposed to in a saloon. This is also indicative of why we distinguish people by classes (high/medium/low) and how we delineate workers as blue collar/white collar. People like to know what the pecking order is, whether it is in their personal or professional lives, so they can act accordingly. It denotes such things as superior/subordinate/equal relationships, thereby defining who we can dominate, who we cannot, and who we must coexist with.

2. Intelligence - this is an important factor in judging a person, particularly in the workplace where we are evaluated based on our knowledge, skill set and ability for taking instruction. We are either perceived as someone who can quickly grasp and implement concepts and techniques, versus someone who has trouble taking instruction and learning something.

3. Character - beyond intelligence is the perceived character of the individual, consisting of his ethical makeup, dedication and drive, along with his record of actions and decisions made. This denotes the person's integrity, reliability, and responsibility. Unlike intelligence which denotes what a person is capable of doing, character defines what the person will do in fact. Let me give you an example, I used to know a brilliant guy with a photographic memory in the engineering department of a manufacturing company. His IQ scores were always head and shoulders above everyone else's, but he had trouble applying his intellect. Instead, he was used by the company as nothing more than a walking encyclopedia who could recite complicated formulas and algorithms at a moment's notice, yet had no idea how to use this knowledge in practice.

It is these three attributes, used in concert, which we use to evaluate someone, personally or professionally. It is the determining factors we use to communicate with someone, socialize with them, invest trust in, and delegate responsibility to. Managers use these elements to determine what a worker is capable of doing and assigning pertinent responsibilities. It is also what we use to evaluate a new neighbor, or meet someone for the first time socially or professionally. In a nutshell, it is what we use to "size people up."

We should all be cognizant of how we are perceived by others and adjust where required to fit into the corporate or local culture, but we should also be wary of people masking their weaknesses by appearing or acting as someone they are not. I used to have a gentleman who worked for me in Customer Services who dressed to the teeth, was sharp in social etiquette, and was a pretty smart guy. The only problem was he was a poor performer. He talked a good game, but could never produce anything on time or to the satisfaction of our customers. He was a past master of facade, not substance.

Again, the point here is that people are judged by perceptions first, facts second (ask the tabloid media if you don't believe me). Appearances are important and should be cultivated, be it the workplace or in our private lives, but we should also know that looks can be deceiving and, as such, we should also cultivate a track record of performance and credibility. Just remember, we are judged by all three attributes mentioned, not just one or two. Appearances mean little if people can see through the disguise.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  EQUALITY OF DRIVING - We meet on the level, and drive upon the square.

LAST TIME:  TECHNOLOGY: SHOW ME THE PROOF - Is is really improving our lives?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

TECHNOLOGY: SHOW ME THE PROOF

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Is is really improving our lives?

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

On more than one occasion you have heard me express my skepticism on the beneficial effects of technology on our culture. Proponents obviously claim it has a positive effect, and proudly point at the capacity, speed, and sizzle embedded in such things as computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices, but I'm still not convinced. For example:

* We can communicate with anyone on the planet at any time from just about anywhere (and too often we do), yet we haven't got anything useful to say or say it at the wrong time and place. Further, our command of the English language is slipping, newspapers and magazines are failing, and book publishing is sharply diminishing, thereby indicating a decline in reading.

* We can now write beautiful documents, but our grammar and spelling seems to be degenerating. People may know how to send text messages, but have difficulty composing an effective business letter.

* Our automobiles now offer abundant luxuries through electronics, but the cost to repair and maintain them has skyrocketed.

* We can now purchase items and make travel reservations on-line, thereby displacing this function from trained travel agents and sales clerks with better skills and knowledge to process such things. Inevitably the customer purchases the wrong thing or makes an error in processing the order, which is difficult to correct (and very frustrating).

* Technology may give us in edge in warfare; but you first have to have a well trained and determined soldier to pull the trigger.

* Computers were supposed to be a boom for office productivity but consider how much time is lost tweaking and rebooting MS Windows alone. Further, computers were supposed to cut down on paper; but sales at the paper mills appears to be doing just fine, as well as robust sales of copiers, printers and cartridges.

If our technology is so good, it would make sense that we would see a noticeable leap in productivity in our country. However, if you study the statistics at the US Department of Labor, output has actually been declining over the last ten years in just about every industrial sector. Those sectors showing an upswing can hardly be described as "dramatic."

If there is a statistic to show how technology improves productivity. the US Department of Labor certainly doesn't have it, nor does anyone else for that matter, which is why I continue to say, "Show me the proof!" Frankly, you cannot because there is more to productivity than technology. To me, technology simply represents the tools we use at work and home, and like any tool we can either use it properly or improperly (like shooting ourselves in the foot). Even the finest tool in the wrong hands will produce inferior results. This implies there is more to productivity than the technology itself, that it depends on how the human being uses it. In other words, management is an integral part of the equation, and something that has been sorely lacking in recent times, as indicated by our current recession.

Consider this, number crunching has always been one of the prime benefits of computing. If this is true, then why does it take so long to compile a financial report or budget? After all, everything should be available at the push of a button, right? Unfortunately, corporations and government agencies, operate with poorly designed systems and data bases, thereby the reliability of data is doubtful, thus requiring rechecking.

Productivity should not be measured simply by how fast we perform a given task (efficiency), but the necessity of the task itself should also be examined (effectiveness). After all, there is nothing more unproductive than to build something efficiently that should never have been built at all.

Let me exemplify this another way; the general perception in this country is that America no longer knows how to build automobiles, that the quality is not good. I disagree. Americans know how to build good reliable products as demonstrated by the Americans working in Japanese automotive factories. The difference is in building the right products. Whereas American companies focused on luxury and gas-guzzling cars, the Japanese were busy building economical and fuel-efficient automobiles (as were other countries). Here, it is not a matter of how well we build a product, but is it the right product to build in the first place?

More than anything, technology is a reflection of our standard of living. We have always had technology, we will always have it, and it will constantly change and evolve with us. However, over the last thirty years we have witnessed an explosion in technology that has permeated our society and changed our culture. It was triggered by such things as the Cold War and other military interventions, space exploration, medical research, and global competition in business. Technology came at us so fast and furious that a lot of people had trouble assimilating it, thereby causing a noticeable frustration factor. In all likelihood we probably use only a small fraction of our technology properly (which would be another interesting statistic). For example, how intimate are you with all of the features of your cell phone, computer, TV, digital camera, or even your sprinkler system? Are you using them to their full potential? Probably not.

It has always been my argument that as technology increases, socialization skills decreases. The more we depend on technology to fulfill basic functions like mathematics, communications, spelling, etc., the lazier the human brain becomes. Technology may be fun to use and play with, and can indeed provide tremendous mechanical leverage for humans, but be wary of how it is used and avoid dependencies. Regardless of your pride and prowess with technology, please don't tell me it improves productivity. The jury is still out.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  HOW WE ARE JUDGED - Describing how we size people up.

LAST TIME:  FOR THE LOVE OF STATUS SYMBOLS  - What do you win with them?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

FOR THE LOVE OF STATUS SYMBOLS

BRYCE ON LIFE

- What do you win with them?

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

Have you ever heard the expression, "The guy who has the most toys, wins"? This was obviously invented by someone keenly aware of status symbols. It may sound clever, but I have to wonder what they "win"; the adoration of the vendors they bought everything from? It sounds rather shallow doesn't it?

There are a lot of status symbols we use to impress others, both tangible and intangible. I've categorized them accordingly:

General appearance - an expensive "power suit" is used to denote your corporate status, whether worn by men or women. Your hair is also very important, not just how it is cut or styled, but who does it for you. Other things like glasses, jewelry, and watches are used more for effect as opposed to practicality. Breast augmentations fall under this category. Even our mannerisms, walk, and form of speech is used to send specific signals to others.

Trinkets - the latest technology always makes an impressive status symbol, be it a computer, a cell phone, a TV or camera, a game, etc. The only problem is technology changes at an astounding rate, thereby turning this into a nonstop game of one-upmanship. After all, what is "state-of-the-art" today, is a "has-been" tomorrow.

Automobiles - no other single product tells people your status better than the automobile you drive. Luxury car dealers have known this for years and have used it to their advantage in sales. Snob appeal is often more important than practicality.

Residences - there are two aspects to this: where you live, and what you live in; representing a symbiotic relationship. For example, if you have a magnificent house, yet live on the wrong side of the tracks, people will not care.

Recreation - this represents several things, boats, airplanes, swimming pools, RV's, etc., but it also includes such things as travel (the more exotic, the better), venues (such as resorts and hotels), and attending events (such as galas, benefits, awards presentations, etc.).

Interpersonal relationship - representing who you know and how you know them, particularly celebrities. For men, it also includes marrying the perfect "trophy wife." Even sexual conquests are considered status symbols.

Status symbols are a form of communications. It's our attempt to try and tell others who we are and we're all probably guilty of using such symbols at different points in our lives. It gets a bit disturbing though when we become obsessed with status symbols, such as "Keeping up with the Jones'." In other words, it's not what you have accomplished in your life, but who you think you are.

I tend to call the status seekers the "ST Generation" as they are consumed with having the faSTest, oldeST, neweST, beST, biggeST, smalleST, and moST expensive or powerful. In other words, they measure their social status by things like volume, grade, size, frequency, and age.

Like anybody, I like nice things, but I can't say I'm easily impressed by status symbols anymore, as I tend to think they're impractical and costly. Maybe it's my Scotch blood showing. I tend to be more impressed by people whose actions speak louder than their symbols, such as finding a cure for a disease, an architect who designs a skyscraper, or the contractor who actually builds it. Looks may be important, but they can also be deceiving. As for me, I'll take actions and accomplishments over status symbols any day of the week. Like I said, what do you "win" with status symbols?

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  TECHNOLOGY: SHOW ME THE PROOF - Is is really improving our lives?

LAST TIME:  THANK GOD FOR DONALD TRUMP - Standing up to the news media.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THANK GOD FOR DONALD TRUMP

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Standing up to the news media.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

"Thank God for Donald Trump." There, I've said it. Now let me tell you why. Most newly elected presidents enjoy a short period of harmony before the press openly attacks them. Not Donald Trump. He has been under attack since well before he shocked the media by his victory in November. Between the press, the Democrats in Congress, the DC and entertainment establishments, and the anarchists in the street, an unwholesome rebellion has erupted to thwart Mr. Trump at every turn. It is is so vicious, it makes the Nixon episode seem like "Bambi."

Now we come to learn the press is indeed anti-Trump, at least according to a new study by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy (May 18th) which analyzed the media's coverage of Mr. Trump's first 100 days in office. Basically, it confirms what many of us have long suspected, that the president is not getting a fair shake from the press.

The report scrutinized the coverage of such heavyweights as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC, as well as three European news outlets (The UK’s Financial Times, the BBC, and Germany’s ARD). From this, some interesting facts emerged:

First, the president dominated 41% of all news coverage, representing three times the amount of coverage when compared to other presidents.

Second, for most of his presidency, the coverage of Mr. Trump was more negative than positive, thereby setting a new standard for unfavorable press coverage. The one exception was during the period of the Syrian rocket attack.

Third, over 90% of the news stories from CNN, NBC and CBS were negative. Fox News came closest to parity between positive and negative stories, but 52% of their stories were also considered negative.

Bottom-line, the report paints a picture of a biased news media. Why are they so overtly negative? Perhaps they are still miffed from miscalling Mr. Trump's victory in November. One can also speculate the news media is an organ of the Liberal agenda and is bent on taking back the Congress and the White House. Consequently, their rhetoric is intended to stir anger in the country and cause disharmony.

Most likely, this indignation is aimed more at Republicans in general as opposed to just Mr. Trump. Had another Republican won the election, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. John Kasich, or any of the remaining 15 candidates, the press would have surely turned their venom on them as well. The big difference is Mr. Trump is considered an outsider, not imbued with political protocol. Nor will he be intimidated by the press and has taken the fight to them, as opposed to sitting and taking it. Whereas other presidents tried to play nice with the press, in hopes they will be treated fairly, Mr. Trump seemed to instinctively know who his enemies were and has pushed back, much to the surprise and anger of the media.

The president's Republican opponents during the election did not have the combative spirit of Mr. Trump. Now that we know how vicious the press can be, we should consider how others would handled the scrutiny of the savage press, such as Sen. Rubio, Gov. Walker, Gov. Jeb Bush, et al? Most likely, they would have found themselves playing defense. Even Carly Fiorina, the press would have overlooked her as being the first female president and would have attacked her unmercifully.

Poll after poll shows the credibility of the press continues to diminish with the American public, yet they staunchly defend their one-sided approach to covering the president.

Only Donald Trump had the temerity to face the news media and take them to task. Whereas others would have tried to play nice with the press, they would still be vilified. Fortunately, Mr. Trump seems to know their intention and shows no sign of backing down from them. Some might say, "How can he stand such abuse? Why doesn't he just throw it in and retire to an island somewhere?" That is most definitely not Mr. Trump's style as he doesn't run from a fight, which is why I say...

Thank God for Donald Trump.

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  FOR THE LOVE OF STATUS SYMBOLS - What do you win with them?

LAST TIME:  TALKING WITH YOUR HANDS - Do we do it to excess?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

STOP THE PRESS!

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Time to get tough with the news media.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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

In the past, the expression "Stop the Press" meant to halt production in order to include a pressing news story in a newspaper, now it is becoming a war cry to take the news media to task for "fake news."

When Donald Trump assumed the office of the President, there was no honeymoon as was afforded his predecessors. Instead, he has been constantly under attack by the liberal Left on the streets, Congressional Democrats, inside gremlin leakers, the entertainment media, and the press. In their minds, he can do nothing right and, as such, they are on a mission: take him down at all costs. By using stalling and smearing tactics, they hope to make him impotent. Ideally, they would love to impeach him thereby killing two birds with one stone, both Mr. Trump and the Republicans.

The animosity is so great, if the President's life was somehow taken, God forbid, I suspect the left would celebrate as opposed to shedding a single tear.

The greatest threat to American national security is not the climate, terrorist groups, or a foreign government such as North Korea. It is the American press who has turned from the watch dog of government to attack dog. Every day, a new story is introduced, be it large or small, designed to be derogatory against the president, most of which is fallacious. Their objective is simple: create a feeding frenzy to tie up the White House by spreading falsehoods and calling for a continuous line of investigations. By doing so, they hope to put the president on the defensive and deter his agenda. Anybody who believes the press is fair and impartial is taking it in the arm. Journalistic integrity is a myth, it's about the Democrats retaking the government.

The rhetoric is so vicious by the liberal press that drastic measures are likely in the offing. The media was shocked when President Trump recently suggested curbing White House press briefings and distribute news through written press announcements only. As for me, I wondered why it took him so long to come to this conclusion as this is something I recommended last year. After all, the press is not honest with the White House and often misinterprets the news secretary. So why bend over backwards for the press if their mission is to destroy the president?

The reality is, America is a country embroiled in a civil war of ideologies. The hate and animosity in this country is perhaps at its highest since before the 1860s. Think about it. Our values on the two sides are incompatible, our work ethic is different, and our sense of socioeconomics are at polar opposites. Whereas America used to fear the Red Menace of Socialism, the left now openly embraces it.

Former Presidents Reagan and the Bushs were somewhat prepared for the news bias as they were established politicians, but Mr. Trump is an outsider who was elected to "drain the swamp," which includes the news media. As such, the press feels emboldened to take him down. In response, the president does not feel compelled to play by their rules and is willing to strike back, something the press is unaccustomed to and angers them.

Whenever I discuss politics with friends, and they begin to spout rehearsed talking points, I first ask them, "Where did you get this from?" which inevitably leads me back to the liberal press. I inevitably admonish them, "Don't believe everything you read."

As a news junkie, someone who used to read newspapers cover-to-cover, I consider this all rather sad as I no longer trust the press, nor does America in general according to polls. The reality is the news media has become an organ of the left, with no sense of moderation. Whether it is the elimination of the press briefings or some other tonic, the press has to be confronted as it is obviously running amok under the ruse of journalistic honesty and integrity.

The news media will likely keep attacking the president through the mid-term elections next year. If their criticisms backfire, and the Republicans gain ground in Congress, the left will have to go back to the drawing board. It seems to me they would have more luck articulating their policies and positions on such things as the economy, foreign affairs, national security, etc. than just being the harbinger of doom and gloom. Then again, maybe they have nothing new to offer the American public.

The important point to remember here is, "Stop the Press!"

Also published in The Huffington Post.

Keep the Faith!

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

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2017 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  THANK GOD FOR DONALD TRUMP - Standing up to the news media.

LAST TIME:  TALKING WITH YOUR HANDS - Do we do it to excess?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.