LIBERAL VS. CONSERVATIVE PERSONALITIES

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Are liberals smarter or is it a matter of different wiring?

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I have always been fascinated by the disparity between liberals and conservatives, particularly as witnessed in the last electoral cycle. The contrast is as sharp as black and white. It's as if two different races of people occupy the land with totally different perspectives and values. I'm not sure why this is, but I want to give my two cents on the subject.

A couple of years ago there was considerable discussion regarding the thesis that liberals were smarter than conservatives. A couple of college research studies, one in the UK and another in the United States, suggested as much. In reality, these studies offered theories, and were far from conclusive. Frankly, I'm not sure IQ is a good measure, as I know plenty of people on both sides of the aisle who could score high marks on intelligence tests.

Instead, maybe it's a left brain/right brain type of phenomenon. My stereotype of liberals is as a group of very creative people, almost artistic in nature. Such people feel inhibited by rules and boundaries as it frustrates their creativity. They prefer shattering regulations in order to enjoy complete freedom. In contrast, conservatives flourish under rules as it offers the structure and organization they desire to provide them with direction. They may not be as creative as liberals, but they can be craftsmen of the highest order as they comprehend the disciplined process for building something, and the penalties for violating a step within it.

In this respect, the difference between liberals and conservatives is essentially no different than art versus science. An art form relies on the intuitiveness of the person performing the work, something that is difficult, if not impossible, to pass on to another human being. For example, apprentices serving under an artist may try for years to emulate the master, but may never attain his level of skill and creativity. In contrast, a science is based on a governing body of proven concepts and principles and, as such, can be easily taught to others. What I am suggesting herein is that liberals tend to gravitate to art, and conservatives towards science. Whereas liberals yearn for unbridled freedom of expression, conservatives prefer a methodical approach for living their lives.

There is perhaps nothing better to exemplify the difference between liberals and conservatives than school uniforms. While conservatives tend to embrace the concept, liberals reject it out of hand claiming it will inhibit the individuality of their offspring. In contrast, conservatives view it as something positive, promoting teamwork and cooperation. This may explain why conservatives are more likely to embrace traditional values as opposed to breaking with them. Liberals bristle at such a notion. Their permissive attitudes tend to challenge the norms of the day.

Although this is not a hard and fast rule, I find liberals tend to thrive on recognition as they are, in a sense, performing like an artist. In fact, they can be quite vocal in attracting attention. On the other hand, conservatives are less inclined to be in the spotlight, and tend to just go about their vocations quietly. Not surprising, liberals chafe at criticism as it represents an attack of their creative spirit. Conservatives are more receptive to criticism as it is perceived as a natural part of the discipline and order of life, e.g., "right and wrong."

There are those who suggest liberals are more compassionate, but I do not agree with this premise. Time and again, I have seen conservatives generously lend a helping hand both in terms of time and money, particularly those with a deep religious faith. However, they tend to go about it more quietly than their liberal counterparts. As an aside, I tend to believe liberals avoid religion, not because they question spirituality, but because organized religion embodies a collection of governing rules to live by.

So, are liberals smarter than conservatives, or is it a simple matter of different wiring based on the art versus science analogy? I tend to believe liberals live in the abstract world of "What if," while conservatives live in the pragmatic world of "What is." It is more about ego than it is about intelligence.

First published:  March 6, 2013

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

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Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

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CHINKS APPEAR IN THE DEMOCRATS' ARMOR

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Their dirty tricks are going to cost them the election.

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We are now on the eve of the confrontation between Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at the U.S. Senate confirmation hearing in Washington, DC. Although nothing has been formally filed, neither in 2018 or 35 years ago, Dr. Ford accuses the Judge of sexual harassment when she was in high school. This is an eleventh hour "Hail Mary" pass made by the Democrats to delay the confirmation vote until after the midterm elections where they might possibly capture both chambers of Congress, and thereby negate the nominee.

Undoubtedly, the Democrats will not believe the Judge's testimony; likewise, the Republicans will see Dr. Ford as a willing pawn in their opponent's strategy. Without some sort of tangible evidence or expert testimony, this will remain a "he said/she said" affair, and the Democrats will have successfully delayed the confirmation vote on the Judge by two weeks.

Regardless of the outcome, the Democrats will, of course, demand an FBI investigation, thereby further delaying the vote, but this is something for a criminal case, of which the Judge is yet to be charged. They may also introduce something else to delay the vote, such as a parade of women accusing him of indiscretions.

This is all known by people on both sides of the aisle. The Democrats are playing the Republican leadership who wants to appear fair. However, the Left has been working behind the scenes orchestrating delays and interruptions, such as the protesters who earlier upset the proceedings. All of this has taken what is normally a rather civil investigation into am embarrassing affair for all involved.

Even before the Judge's appointment by President Trump, the Democrats let it be known they would not support any candidate put forth by the president, as the person would undoubtedly be conservative and allegedly would overturn Roe vs. Wade. Judge Kavanaugh just happened to be the one selected and has had to go through Hell, along with his family. If the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee were asked to vote on the Judge based solely on his legal record, I am confident they would still vote against him. In other words, the vote would be no different today as it would have been if it were held at the beginning.

It will be interesting to see if the Republicans possess the will to shut them down. If the shoe was on the other foot, and the Democrats were in charge of the committee, they would have surely voted on the candidate already. If the Republicans botch the hearing, this could have devastating consequences on the midterm elections.

As I indicated in my recent OpEd, "The Political War of 2018," the Democrats are desperate and, as such, are exhibiting obnoxious immoral behavior. They will go to any length to get elected, regardless if it is legal or not, believing the end justifies the means. Fortunately, their shenanigans during this campaign cycle, culminated by the Kavanaugh hearings, has not gone unnoticed by the American public.

In a new report, Gallup claims "Republican Party Favorability Highest in Seven Years" (jumping from 36% to 47%). According to the report, Democrats have historically had a higher favorability rating with Democrats and Independents, but this all changed this year as Independents gravitated to Republicans. As Gallup reports:

"The overall increase in the favorable image of the Republican Party is a result of a jump in the positive views of Republicans, including independents who lean toward the party. The percentage of Republicans and leaners with favorable views of their party grew from 67% last September to 85% now."

This jives with another Gallup report, issued in June, stating Americans who are satisfied with the direction of the country has reached a twelve year high, going back to September 2005.

In other words, Americans appear to appreciate the efforts of President Trump and the Republicans, such as the upturn in the economy, the support for law enforcement and the military, and the need to curb illegal immigration. Further, they do not seem to appreciate the helter-skelter of the Democrats and want to see the country return to normal.

All of this suggests the Democrats are not winning the hearts and minds of the American people, but, rather, are alienating them instead. This does not bode well for the party as they approach the midterm elections just a few scant weeks away.

Should they lose in November, and I suspect they will, it will mean the Democrats cannot win lawfully or unlawfully, thereby presenting a serious conundrum for them as they approach the 2020 presidential year. This is where the party will have to make some hard decisions, such as policies and tactics, finding suitable candidates, and the general direction of the party, e.g., do they continue to embrace Socialism or return to a moderate position? I suspect the first reaction will be to march and protest the outcome, thereby compounding their problem with the American people.

Now the question is, can we survive the next six weeks? Let's pray we can.

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 © 2018 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.

WHO REALLY ASSUMES RISK?

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- The employee or the employer?

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"The amount of risk we assume is proportional to the responsibilities we accept." - Bryce's Law

Not long ago I was meeting with some software developers from a small company who expressed their concern about the risk involved with a project they were working on. They weren't so much concerned about the viability of the project in terms of its impact on the company as they were with the potential effect it might have on their professional careers. In other words, they saw this as a high risk project that could affect them for years to come. This may be true, but from their description I saw their risk as minuscule in comparison to what their employer was gambling which, frankly, was the company's future.

This got me thinking about how we perceive risk in our professional lives. Most employees perceive risk in terms of how it affects them professionally, particularly as a source of income. In reality, it is the employer who assumes all of the risk. If something goes wrong, it will be the employer who will be sued, not the employee. It will be the employer who has to deal with government regulators and creditors, not the employee, It will be the employer who loses financially and faces bankruptcy, not the employee. In fact, most employees do not appreciate the risk required to simply open the company's doors for business. Their life is rather simple as compared to the business owner who agonizes over the company's survival.

Risk is not for everyone, it is for those entrepreneurial spirits who are not afraid of taking a gamble; who recognizes both the risks and rewards for taking it. True risk requires a "Type A" personality (which we have discussed in the past) who knows how to study variables, calculate odds and return on investment, and is willing to assume the responsibility for taking it. It is most definitely not for the faint of heart.

This brings up a point: The degree of risk increases the higher you go in the corporate hierarchy. Whether you are cognizant of it or not, as you assume additional responsibilities in a company, through a promotion for example, you are also being saddled with additional risks, and your success depends on your ability to assume the risks and conquer them. Some people rise to the occasion, others face the Peter Principle whereby they cannot rise above their level of competency. Nevertheless, true risk is assumed by the highest echelons in the corporate structure, regardless of the size of business. And it is this sense of risk that greatly influences our style of management.

We should also understand the difference between taking a risk and being rash in judgment. The two are not synonymous. I always exemplify it by using a game of Craps as found in a casino; the rash person simply throws his wager on the table without thinking, but the person who studies the game and knows the odds before he places a bet is the one taking the calculated risk. The higher you go up in business, the more you appreciate the need for studying the odds.

As any business owner will tell you, employees really do not grasp the concept of risk. I think the following quote pretty much sums it up:

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails Daring Greatly so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
- President Theodore Roosevelt

First published: December 7, 2007

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

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Copyright © 2018 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.

HAS FREEMASONRY LOST ITS LUSTER?

BRYCE ON FREEMASONRY

- Can it no longer change and adapt?

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As a Freemason who has had more than one run-in with with Grand Masters, I have become a lightning rod for others who are no longer satisfied with the institution, both in and outside of my jurisdiction. I am not sure I can help other than to listen to their problems and offer some sympathy. Recently, I heard from two Brothers in my jurisdiction who called to complain about what was going on in their Lodge, or more specifically, what wasn't happening. One was in his early 30's, the other in his mid-70's. Remarkably, their complaints were similar. Both fervently believe in Freemasonry as a concept, but have difficulty accepting how it is physically practiced in their jurisdiction.

They both love the concept of brotherhood, its heritage, the practice of morality, and working together to make communities better. However, they find attending Lodge meetings to be repetitive and boring with little effort to make it interesting and worthwhile. It almost seems like it is designed to fail. Both Brothers said to me, as well as many others, "This is not what I signed up for," and are in the process of demitting.

Instead of Lodges embracing the concept of Brotherhood, Freemasons have grown weary of the petty political struggles where people feverishly work to earn an inane object such as a fancy apron or a new Masonic title, e.g., Worshipful, Right Worshipful, Most Worshipful. I am often asked, "What is wrong with the plain white apron and simply being called 'Brother'?" Instead, they lament Freemasonry is practiced as a Good Old Boy Club whereby, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." This suggests an individualistic approach based on favoritism, not one based on collective teamwork.

One of the Brothers noted, of all the people who were raised with him during his year, only one has returned to Lodge. Most simply disappear, move on to other endeavors, and drop out. This suggests the Lodge is not offering anything of value to its members, such as stimulating discussions and meaningful social interaction.

Like many other jurisdictions, we have watched membership here erode over the past fifteen years, losing over 1,500 on an annual basis. This is perplexing to the Brothers I talked with who commented while membership dwindles, the aprons and titles never abate. I tend to refer to this type of phenomenon as "Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic" - in other words, people tend to worry about the wrong things.

The Brothers had hoped to find a place for the free expression of ideas and debate, of stimulating discussion and mental gymnastics, to be curious and learn, but this is typically frowned upon by both the Lodge officers and Grand Lodge who are quick to squash such discussions. Consequently, Lodge is no longer "a place of enlightenment," and people quickly exit it at the conclusion of a meeting. They further note sub-par floor work by apathetic officers during the conferring of degrees, some simply laughing off their performance. This distracts from impressing on the candidates the importance of the lessons embodied in the degrees.

They admit to having met some fine people along the way, true believers in the Craft, but also a lot of petty people who become jealous over the success of others and undermines them. Such backstabbing tends to make people paranoid and not comfortable in their own Lodge. As one of the Brothers explained to me, "A Masonic Lodge is a place where people prefer to speak behind your back, as opposed to your face."

The Brothers also sought further light in Masonry from other institutions, such as the Scottish Rite and York Rite. Again, they didn't find it stimulating, just "this is the way we've always done it."

Maybe this problem is unique to their jurisdiction, but I doubt it.

I find it difficult to console such Brothers as I have always contended Freemasonry requires a major overhaul (see my "Masonic Manifesto" written years ago). Having fought the immovable object though for so long, all I can advise them is, "You cannot fight city hall." This inability to adapt to change is the single biggest reason why the Craft is losing members, by frustrating good Masons and causing them to abandon the fraternity.

It is not my intention here to appear too negative, but we can no longer afford to cover up our blemishes and hope they will go away on their own. If we truly believe in the concept of Freemasonry, we can ill-afford to be reactive and become pro-active instead. This all begins by admitting we have a problem. It has long been an axiom of ours, "You cannot treat a patient if he doesn’t know he is sick" (Bryce's Law).

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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TAMPA'S YBOR STADIUM

BRYCE ON SPORTS

- Another taxpayer ripoff.

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I have always found it interesting the amount of money the public invests in sports venues. Most of us are unwitting pawns in financing the various arenas and stadiums around the country, often paying substantial increases in taxes to support them, even when we have absolutely no interest in them.

Let me give you an example, coming from Cincinnati, I remember when they finally closed and razed Crosley Field, the iconic home of Reds baseball, which stood for 58 years and was originally constructed for $225,000 ($5.71 million in 2017 dollars). In 1970, it was replaced by Riverfront Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium for the Reds, the NFL's Bengals, and a variety of concerts. It cost less than $50 million to construct and the public was assured the stadium would last well into the 21st century. This was simply not so. In 2000, the Bengals moved into Paul Brown Stadium at a cost of $455 million. In 2003, the Reds moved into the Great American Ball Park at a cost of $290 million. In other words, a stadium constructed at a cost of $50 million lasted only 33 years and was replaced at a cost of $745 million, all paid for by Cincinnati tax payers.

A similar phenomenon is occurring in Tampa Bay. In 1967, we opened Tampa Stadium (aka "The Big Sombrero"), costing $4.4 million for construction ($32.3 million in 2017 dollars). This, of course, became the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers until 1998 (31 years later) when it was replaced by Raymond James Stadium for $168.5 million ($253 million in 2017 dollars). In 1996, Tampa opened Amalie Arena for the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning for $139 million ($217 million in 2016 dollars). Finally, St. Petersburg opened Tropicana Field in 1990 for the MLB's Tampa Bay Rays at a cost of $130 million ($244 million in 2017 dollars). Now, just 28 years later the Rays are abandoning "The Trop" in favor of a new stadium, Ybor, to be ready by the 2023 season. As an aside, this will be the smallest MLB stadium in terms of capacity, yet costing $892 million.

In other words, a larger stadium constructed in 1990 for $130 million, and still in sound condition, will be replaced by a new one for $892 million, almost seven times the cost of Tropicana. Since 1967, Tampa Bay will have paid over $1.3 billion for professional sports venues.

I find this "disposable" way of thinking regarding sports venues to be disturbing as there appears to be little consideration for upgrading existing facilities at far less cost. By comparison, Tampa Bay's investment in such facilities, makes Cincinnati's costs look like a bargain. The reality is both cities are practicing obnoxious economics, with the tax payers picking up the lion's share of the costs. The teams themselves pay a mere pittance by comparison. The reality though is the consumer pays twice for the stadium, once for inflated ticket prices (and accompanying high priced beverages and food), and a second for increased taxes, particularly sales. Some claim this is the price of progress. I call it wasteful inflation.

We're all aware stadiums have been used by sports teams to blackmail cities, whereby the teams demand new lavish facilities or threaten to move to another city. Consequently, cities feel compelled to pay the ransom. In the NFL, we saw this in Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Oakland. In Baseball, we've seen it in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Montreal, and Washington, DC. And we've seen it in Spring Training facilities here in the Tampa Bay area.

To sell the concept of a new sports venue to the public, proponents boast how it will invigorate the local economy. How? By local restaurants, hotels, and air travel? Souvenirs? Parking? No, let's quit kidding ourselves, the only one prospering is the team. To prove this, a 2015 study was performed by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, finding there is little evidence professional sports franchise venues lead to significant economic benefits.

One of the principals of the study, Dennis Coates, Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland wrote: "If the local government is looking for a policy to foster economic growth, far better candidate policies exist than those subsidizing a professional sports franchise."

In a separate report, "Do Economists Reach a Conclusion on Subsidies for Sports Franchises, Stadiums, and Mega-Events?", Coates wrote: "We have seen that economists in general, as represented by Whaples’s survey (2006), oppose sports subsidies. Economists reach the nearly unanimous conclusion that “tangible” economic benefits generated by professional sports facilities and franchises are very small; clearly far smaller than stadium advocates suggest and smaller than the size of the subsidies. The fact that sports subsidies continue to be granted, despite the overwhelming preponderance of evidence that no tangible economic benefits are generated by these heavily subsidized professional sports facilities, remains a puzzle."

It seems rather reckless that sports venues are given carte blanche by cities to support their teams. Let us remember, all of the major leagues are well financed and deal with millions of dollars, be it Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Arena Football League (AFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and more. I have a problem asking John Q. Public, who makes an average salary of $56K, to sponsor teams and players making millions of dollars.

Evidently I am not alone, as there is the "Americans for Prosperity," a political advocacy group in the United States funded by the Koch brothers (David and Charles). According to their web site, "We protect the American Dream by fighting each day for lower taxes, less government regulation, and economic prosperity for all." Their local contact in Tampa Bay is Demetrius Minor, (727) 270-1407 - dminor@afphq.org - @dminor85

Since they are concerned with fiduciary responsibility in government and the lowering of taxes, the group is well aware of the zealous over-spending on sports venues and wants to protect tax payers. To find out more, look them up on the web at: https://americansforprosperity.org/.

One last thing to consider:

* In 2026, just three years after the scheduled opening of the new Ybor field, Amalie Arena will be thirty years old and past its prime.

* In 2028, just five years after Ybor, Raymond James Stadium will also be thirty years old.

Who is then going to foot the bill for new stadiums? The teams? Hardly. Like it or not, we are trapped in a vicious cycle. We can either sit back and take it or fight back. It's your choice.

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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE POLITICAL WAR OF 2018

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Into the breach we go.

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Back in January, I previewed the midterm elections and predicted this will become a "bloody" political war. Unfortunately, I was right. With just over a month to go, the election gets nastier with each passing day.

As I predicted, every word President Trump says or Tweets is scrutinized by the news media and twisted by the Left. Accuracy in news reporting is a myth. Flagrant lies and misrepresentations abound in order to try and stop Republicans from holding on to the Congress and various State governments.

Everything is politicized, even hurricanes, in fear it might make the president and Republicans look good. Prior to Hurricane Florence's arrival off the coast of the Carolinas, the media asked the president if the federal government was prepared for the emergency and had they learned anything from Puerto Rico one year earlier. The President responded by saying the government was ready for Florence and, all things considered, did a remarkably good job in supporting Puerto Rico, which took the press aback, claiming it was a disaster instead.

When you consider the location of the island and its poor economic condition, Yes, the federal government did a good job.

People seem to have forgotten that, thanks to the policies of the Democrats, Puerto Rico was on the verge of bankruptcy. It has a horrible reputation for economic responsibility, with billions of dollars in debt, pension obligations they cannot afford to pay, and a dwindling GDP. Consequently, the infrastructure and utilities were not in the best of shape prior to the hurricane, as well as emergency services, requiring major repairs by the federal government.

Then, the president was accused of being insensitive to the deaths in Puerto Rico when he tweeted...

@realDonaldTrump
"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000..."

".....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!"
- Donald J. Trump - 9/13/2018

After maintaining for several months that only a handful of people had perished due to hurricanes, the Puerto Rican government raised the death toll unexpectedly to 2,975 in August. Is it a coincidence this news came just before the midterms? Hmm...

In other words, the president makes a good point, yet the media went viral in their condemnation of what he said. This certainly will not be the last instance of twisting his words as we still have over a month to go until the election.

Then there is the outrageous behavior by Senate Democrats to obstruct the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, including an alleged High School sexual misconduct charge reported as a last minute "Hail Mary" designed to stop Mr. Kavanaugh. The candidate categorically and unequivocally denies this allegation, and is backed by many women who have known him for many years. This was nothing more than a last minute smear campaign to besmirch the candidate's good name.

What this all highlights is this campaign goes well beyond the president to other Republicans running for governor, senate, the House, state assembly, or dog catcher. Using the influence of the media, the Democrats are falsely accusing GOP candidates of racism and other improprieties. Case in point, the attacks on Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis by the media adamantly accusing him of making racist remarks. Actually, he made no such comment at all, this is all concocted by Democrat operatives in the press.

Publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Tampa Bay Times, and many others have lost all sense of honest journalism and have become the marketing arm of the Democrats. The same can be said for CNN, MS-NBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. They have lost their integrity and any semblance of reality. Their job is simple: refute anything and everything the president says, and accuse him of maligning their character when he dares to fight back.

While the press persists in putting down a diversionary smokescreen for the Democrats to hide behind, the economy continues to rebound and the average American prospers. As noted by the the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Republicans possess a far better track record of running state governments, particularly in Florida, yet the media refuses to acknowledge this as it does not fit with their political agenda.

Even the polls are skewed in favor of the Democrats, just as they were in 2016. As they are under control of the Left, it is no small wonder they claim the Democrats are pulling ahead. Their predictions will likely be as bad as they were in 2016. Frankly, the polls do not matter. The best way to determine election outcomes is to study the early-voting and absentee balloting data coming out of the various Secretary of States, Division of Elections. This is how I knew Mr. Trump would clinch Florida in 2016. The polls are worthless.

The Left has gone well beyond simple propaganda and lampooning their opponents and now resort to name calling, identity politics, bullying, rumors and innuendo, slander and libel, lies and deceit, character assassination, race baiting, and bearing false witness. They are unapologetic for it as well, even quite proud of how they have changed the moral fabric of the country. This is what the face of desperation looks like.

In reality, what we are witnessing is the death roll of the Democrats, a party desperate for a win in November. As I mentioned back in January, the Democrats have to win if they ever hope to survive as a party. As such, any lie or deceit is deemed acceptable in order to win at any cost. If you think the press is bad now, you haven't seen anything like what you are about to see in the last month of the campaign. They have lost their civility and found a home as bottom-dwellers. Sad, very sad.

As for the Republicans, they have to keep their cool and not lower themselves to the level of the Democrats. They need to stick to the facts and sell the financial prosperity and stability they have created.

Since the press will not report anything positive about their party, it is necessary for Republicans to blitz the Internet using such things as social media and e-mail to get the truth out. Unfortunately, social media is controlled by the Democrats and, as such, may be censored. Regardless, it is time for Republicans to be proactive, not reactive, in combating the Socialists. Their biggest mistake would be to underestimate the will of the Left and let them have their say uncontested. If they do this, they deserve to lose.

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 © 2018 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.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TRUE ECONOMIC RECORD

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- No, it is not what he would have us believe.

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Former President Barack Obama was back on the campaign trail recently, less than two years after leaving office. Most former presidents stay out of the fray, but he was called out of mothballs to help elect Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections. As such, he took swipes at President Trump's economic agenda, saying:

"When you hear how great the economy's doing right now, let's just remember when this recovery started." "Suddenly, Republicans are saying it's a miracle. I have to kind of remind them, actually, those job numbers are the same as they were in 2015 and 2016."
- former President Barack Obama
September 7, 2018

Whenever you study economic trends, there are two fundamental variables, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which reflects production, and unemployment. For the record, how did President Obama do as compared to President Trump?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
Under President Obama - In 2016 (his last year in office) - went from 1.5% to 1.8%
Under President Trump - Since taking office in January 2017 - went from 1.8% to 4.2%

Unemployment Rate:
Under President Obama - In 2016 (his last year in office) - went from 4.9% to 4.7%
Under President Trump - Since taking office in January 2017 - went from 4.8% to 3.9%

The economy is not based on the performance of the stock markets, which only reflect confidence in the economy. I have had people ask me, "If the economy is so good, why won't my portfolio go up?" It never occurs to them they may have invested badly.

There are many other variables that could be examined, such as wages, earnings, consumer confidence, inflation, the prime rate, the national debt, etc., but it is the GDP and unemployment which matter most.

President Obama supervised the recovery from the recession in 2009, one of the slowest on record. So many people were unemployed, they gave up and wouldn't report their status, which lead to fallacious statistics and caused polling companies, such as Gallup, to define "true" unemployment.

For Mr. Obama to claim responsibility for today's economic boom is simply fantasy land. If anything, it represents a refutation of his policies. It came about primarily for two reasons: President Trump repealing many of the bureaucratic rules strangling American business, and his reduction of the corporate tax. Consequently, companies were invigorated to invest in their businesses, pay their workers more money, hire more employees, and bring back jobs to America.

Let us not forget what President Obama said in June 2016 at an Indiana town-hall meeting, when asked about Candidate Trump’s promise to kick-start manufacturing jobs in the country:

"Well, how exactly are you going to do that? What exactly are you going to do? There’s no answer to it. He just says, 'Well, I'm going to negotiate a better deal.' Well, what, how exactly are you going to negotiate that? What magic wand do you have? And usually the answer is, he doesn’t have an answer."

According to Bloomberg in March 2018, a rebound in manufacturing has indeed occurred, "Over the past year, according to today's employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the sector has added 222,000 jobs, resuming a recovery that had paused in 2015 and 2016 amid strength in the dollar and weakness in the U.S. oil and gas industry."

Making claims to the contrary is simply nonsense. This is another example of how the Democrats are laying down a smoke screen regarding successful Republican economic policies prior to the midterm elections. It is an act of sheer desperation.

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 © 2018 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.

2018 AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Do we really need all of this?

As part of the 2018 midterm elections, Floridians will be asked to vote on thirteen amendments to the state's constitution. Thirteen seems a lot, but it is understandable as many of them are proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission, a state commission that meets every 20 years to recommend changes, and, Yes, this is the year when they met, hence the substantial number of changes.

A copy of the amendments can be obtained from the state (click HERE), and I encourage voters to become familiar with them prior to November 6th.

The purpose of a constitution is to define the basic mechanisms of the government. For example, the U.S. Constitution defines the duties and responsibilities of the three branches of government, including voting and how to enact changes. The Bill of Rights is a separate document related to the Constitution detailing our rights. In Florida though, the state constitution is a bloated document where everything is thrown into, thereby requiring it to be updated frequently. Many of the Amendments here should be placed in a separate document or simply handled by the state assembly.

I endeavored to find out how the Democrats and Republicans feel about each issue. This was difficult as I could find no party specific recommendations. Along the way though, I discovered how many of the party officials felt and deduced their answer. Naturally, the two parties were black and white on every issue (no surprise there). The one group who was unafraid to state their position was the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Consequently, I have included their response herein.

With this said, here are the thirteen amendments, along with their sponsors and pertinent comments:

NO. 1 - BALLOT TITLE: Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6, ARTICLE XII, SECTION 37
Sponsor: The Florida Legislature/House (HJR7105)

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to increase the homestead exemption by exempting the assessed valuation of homestead property greater than $100,000 and up to $125,000 for all levies other than school district levies. The amendment shall take effect January 1, 2019.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is Neutral. Conceptually, the legislation gives homeowners a tax reduction, and by doing so will result in less money for municipalities, counties and special districts.

NO. 2 - BALLOT TITLE: Limitations on Property Tax Assessments
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ARTICLE XII, SECTION 27
Sponsor: The Florida Legislature/House (CS/HJR 21)

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to permanently retain provisions currently in effect, which limit property tax assessment increases on specified nonhomestead real property, except for school district taxes, to 10 percent each year. If approved, the amendment removes the scheduled repeal of such provisions in 2019 and shall take effect January 1, 2019.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a YES.

NO. 3 - BALLOT TITLE: Voter Control of Gambling in Florida
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ARTICLE X, SECTION 29
Sponsor: Voters In Charge

BALLOT SUMMARY:
This amendment ensures that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling by requiring that in order for casino gambling to be authorized under Florida law, it must be approved by Florida voters pursuant to Article XI, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution. Affects articles X and XI. Defines casino gambling and clarifies that this amendment does not conflict with federal law regarding state/tribal compacts.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote YES, Republicans NO, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a YES. If passed, 60% of Florida voters will be needed to regulate it in the future. Is this something that really belongs in our constitution?

NO. 4 - BALLOT TITLE: Voting Restoration Amendment
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ARTICLE VI, SECTION 4
Sponsor: Floridians for a Fair Democracy, Inc.

BALLOT SUMMARY:
This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote YES, Republicans NO, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is Neutral.

NO. 5 - BALLOT TITLE: Supermajority Vote Required to Impose, Authorize, or Raise State Taxes or Fees
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ARTICLE VII, SECTION 19
Sponsor: The Florida Legislature/House (HJR7001)

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Prohibits the legislature from imposing, authorizing, or raising a state tax or fee except through legislation approved by a twothirds vote of each house of the legislature in a bill containing no other subject. This proposal does not authorize a state tax or fee otherwise prohibited by the Constitution and does not apply to fees or taxes imposed or authorized to be imposed by a county, municipality, school board, or special district.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a YES. A YES vote means tax increases require a 2/3 approval in both the state senate and house; a NO vote means a simple majority is needed for passage.

NO. 6 - BALLOT TITLE: Rights of Crime Victims; Judges
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE I, SECTION 16, ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 8 AND 21, ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Creates constitutional rights for victims of crime; requires courts to facilitate victims’ rights; authorizes victims to enforce their rights throughout criminal and juvenile justice processes. Requires judges and hearing officers to independently interpret statutes and rules rather than deferring to government agency’s interpretation. Raises mandatory retirement age of state justices and judges from seventy to seventy-five years; deletes authorization to complete judicial term if one-half of term has been served by retirement age.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is Neutral.

NO. 7 - BALLOT TITLE: First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits; Public Colleges and Universities
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE IX, SECTIONS 7 AND 8, ARTICLE X, NEW SECTION
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Grants mandatory payment of death benefits and waiver of certain educational expenses to qualifying survivors of certain first responders and military members who die performing official duties. Requires supermajority votes by university trustees and state university system board of governors to raise or impose all legislatively authorized fees if law requires approval by those bodies. Establishes existing state college system as constitutional entity; provides governance structure.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is Neutral.

NO. 8 - BALLOT TITLE: School Board Term Limits and Duties; Public Schools
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE IX, SECTION 4, NEW SECTION, ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

COMMENT:
THIS AMENDMENT HAS BEEN STRUCK DOWN BY THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. As such, it will not be included on the November 6th ballot.

NO. 9 - BALLOT TITLE: Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE II, SECTION 7, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Prohibits drilling for the exploration or extraction of oil and natural gas beneath all state-owned waters between the mean high water line and the state’s outermost territorial boundaries. Adds use of vapor-generating electronic devices to current prohibition of tobacco smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces with exceptions; permits more restrictive local vapor ordinances.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote YES, Republicans NO, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a NO. It is a mystery why a bill concerned with offshore drilling includes a section on e-smoking devices.

NO. 10 - BALLOT TITLE: State and Local Government Structure and Operation
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE III, SECTION 3, ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 4 AND 11, ARTICLE VIII, SECTIONS 1 AND 6
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Requires legislature to retain department of veterans’ affairs. Ensures election of sheriffs, property appraisers, supervisors of elections, tax collectors, and clerks of court in all counties; removes county charters’ ability to abolish, change term, transfer duties, or eliminate election of these offices. Changes annual legislative session commencement date in even- numbered years from March to January; removes legislature’s authorization to fix another date. Creates office of domestic security and counterterrorism within department of law enforcement.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is Neutral.

NO. 11 - BALLOT TITLE: Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provision; Criminal Statutes
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE I, SECTION 2, ARTICLE X, SECTIONS 9 AND 19
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Removes discriminatory language related to real property rights. Removes obsolete language repealed by voters. Deletes provision that amendment of a criminal statute will not affect prosecution or penalties for a crime committed before the amendment; retains current provision allowing prosecution of a crime committed before the repeal of a criminal statute.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a YES.

NO. 12 - BALLOT TITLE: Lobbying and Abuse of Office by Public Officers
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE II, SECTION 8, ARTICLE V, SECTION 13, ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Expands current restrictions on lobbying for compensation by former public officers; creates restrictions on lobbying for compensation by serving public officers and former justices and judges; provides exceptions; prohibits abuse of a public position by public officers and employees to obtain a personal benefit.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote NO, Republicans YES, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a NO.

NO. 13 - BALLOT TITLE: Ends Dog Racing
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, ARTICLE X, NEW SECTION, ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
Sponsor: Constitution Revision Commission

BALLOT SUMMARY:
Phases out commercial dog racing in connection with wagering by 2020. Other gaming activities are not affected.

COMMENT:
Democrats will likely vote YES, Republicans NO, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a NO.Again, is this something that really belongs in our constitution? And what is next, elimination of horse racing?

As you can see, there isn't anything here to change the basic mechanisms of our government, yet people find it necessary to put everything but the kitchen sink in there.

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 © 2018 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.

MAYHEM IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Fact or fiction?

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The Democrats have a dilemma. They are rapidly approaching the 2018 midterm election and have nothing to offer the American voters other than a Socialist agenda featuring universal health care at an estimated price of $32.5 trillion. They know this will not play well in Poughkeepsie as Americans are not comfortable with Socialism. As such, they are desperately trying to divert attention away from their frailties and attack the president instead, declaring him mentally unstable thereby making him unfit to fulfill his duties.

To this end, the Congress has brought up the concept of impeachment and enactment of the 25th Amendment which would represent nothing less than a coup de tête. The main stream media has also been doing their part by scrutinizing every word the president says, writing fallacious accounts of turmoil in the White House, such as the "anonymous" OpEd piece in the New York Times, and Bob Woodward's new book, "Fear: Trump in the White House," all of which claim senior staffers believe the president has lost his mind and they are operating at odds with him.

First, let's be clear, this goes well beyond slander and libel, it is playing politics with the Constitution which is recklessly dangerous and could backfire on the Democrats in November, making them even weaker than they already are.

As a first time politician, President Trump's approach to the job has been unquestionably unorthodox. We saw this in his campaign where he wasn't afraid to counter-punch his political opponents. His use of Twitter to circumvent the news media and his on-going feud with them is like nothing we have ever seen, nor his blunt negotiating tactics with foreign leaders. The news media was quick to accuse him of alienating our allies and putting us on a path towards war. Of course, this never happened, and we are working to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, we've opened a new embassy in the capitol of Israel, and we are now beginning to get better trade deals with other countries.

The left also demeans the president's accomplishments, such as the rising Gross Domestic Product, lowering unemployment, the influx of jobs from reduced taxes and bureaucratic red tape, economic prosperity, more secure borders, a re-galvanized military, and reforms to the VA. Next up, attacking the budget deficit. All of this is immaterial to the Democrats who declare him crazy in order to lay down a smoke screen to divert the public's attention. In a way, it is like the scene in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz," where the Wizard says, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

If President Trump is truly as mad as the Democrats claim, and I do not agree with their premise, than this country needs more of this madness in our government. The left's disapproval of his character is nothing more than an expression of how out of touch they are with the well-being of the country. Whether you like President Trump's character or not, you cannot deny his results orientation. It is his success that unnerves the Democrats as they realize the public is becoming more cognizant of his accomplishments. Hence, they demean his deeds and falsely paint a picture there is helter-skelter in the White House.

Think about it, the President is fighting not only the Democrats, but the news media, left-wing radicals, Never-Trumpers, and federal bureaucrats (the legendary "deep state"). Despite all this, he is winning. Not surprising, Independents and moderate Democrats are turning away from the New party of Socialist Democrats and gravitating to Republican candidates. The outcome of the November election will either show the tactics of the Democrats are effective, or the party will be in disarray.

As Trump says at his rallies, “It is a lot easier to act presidential than to do what I do.” Sounds crazy, right?

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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

WHY DOES PROJECT MANAGEMENT FAIL?

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- We tend to underestimate its scope and mechanics.

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INTRODUCTION

In addition to problems related to the activities of Project Management (e.g., planning, estimating, scheduling, reporting, and control), I often run into companies who ask the simple question, "Why can't we get our act together? Why does Project Management routinely fail in our company?"

I do not believe a company's overall problems in Project Management can be attributed to a specific tool or technique (although some certainly do not help matters). Instead, I believe it is based on how important a company considers Project Management to be. If they believe it to be a vital part of the company's overall performance, it will be more successful than a company who considers it irrelevant. In other words, I view Project Management as an integral part of the corporate culture.

Let's consider the indicators of how a company values Project Management:

* LACK OF KNOWLEDGE - employees simply lack the basic knowledge of the mechanics of Project Management. I do not run into too many companies anymore with a total absence of knowledge in this regard. The conceptual foundation of Project Management has been around for a number of years. There is a multitude of training programs in Project Management, both at the college and commercial level. There are also several discussion groups on the Internet and professional associations dealing with this subject (e.g., the Project Management Institute of Newtown Square, PA). Hiring or contracting people with absolutely no knowledge of basic Project Management concepts is becoming a rarity.

* LACK OF ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY - the company has not adopted a formal policy for managing projects. Consequently, informal and inconsistent approaches to project management are used with mixed results. This is a much more common occurrence than finding a company devoid of knowledge in Project Management.

* LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF POLICY AND PROCEDURES - even though a policy has been established, it is not enforced. As a result, inconsistent results emerge. If a standard and consistent approach to Project Management is devised by a company, it must be routinely policed in order to assure accuracy and uniform results. It is one thing to enact legislation, quite another to enforce it.

* LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITIES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ATTACK IT IN PIECE MEAL - People seem to naturally underestimate the magnitude of project management. For example, project planning involves defining work breakdown structures and dependencies which is a precursor to estimating, planning, reporting and control; estimating is a prerequisite to scheduling; time reporting impacts project estimates and schedules; resource allocation is based on availability of qualified people (skills inventory) and current project schedules; etc. There is an overwhelming number of software packages on the market attacking various aspects of Project Management, but very few addressing it is an integrated whole.

It must be remembered that project management is first and foremost a philosophy of management, not an elaborate set of tools and techniques, nor is it an administrative function. Rather, it is concerned with managing human beings towards the accomplishment of work (it is a "people management" function). As such, project management will only be as effective as the people who use it.

Ultimately, project management represents DISCIPLINE, ORGANIZATION, and ACCOUNTABILITY; which are three areas people seem to have a natural aversion to these days.

DISCIPLINE - In the western world, people tend to resist discipline because some believe it inhibits creativity and personal freedom. As a result, teamwork is often sacrificed in favor of rugged individualism.

ORGANIZATION - Pursuant to discipline is the problem of organization. Again, in the western world, people prefer to maintain their own identity and organize themselves to meet their needs as opposed to the needs of the organization. There are also those who claim, "A cluttered desk is the sign of a brilliant mind." Hogwash. In contrast, I am a believer of the Navy's regimen whereby you either work on something, file it, or throw it away. This forces people to get organized. If we need more files, let's get them. A cluttered desk is a sign of a disorganized person. Shape up, or ship out.

ACCOUNTABILITY - This is an area people tend to rebel against the most. The approach to project management, as advocated by "PRIDE," ultimately represents visibility and responsibility to produce according to plan. Unfortunately, some people shun commitments and, instead, prefer to hide their activity, thereby they cannot be measured and evaluated. This is typically the reaction of people who are insecure. People who are confident in their abilities have no problem with the accountability issue.

REACTIVE VS. ACTIVE MANAGEMENT

The old adage, "If you do not make the decision, the decision will be made for you," is valid. This also sums up the difference between an active and a reactive manager. True Project Management requires an "active" manager, not "reactive." The active manager takes care of the problems before they happen. They plan on the future. The reactive manager deals with yesterday and waits until problems occur, then tries to take care of them. Today, more and more IT organizations find themselves in a constant "firefighting" mode of operation. Why? Because of a "reactive" management style. The "reactive" manager never seems to get ahead, yet probably enjoys the highest visibility in the company. As an aside, beware of your "firefighters," they are probably your chief arsonists.

Managers don't wait for things to happen, they make things happen.

HOW MUCH PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS NECESSARY?

Can the philosophies of project management be adopted and implemented by a single group of people for a single project? Yes. A department or division? Certainly. The entire company? Definitely. In fact, as the scope grows, communications improves and the philosophy is more consistently applied.

The scope of project management affects many people:

* The individual worker will prepare estimates and schedules, perform project work, and report on activities.

* The project manager will plan and direct the use of resources on projects, and solve problems.

* Department managers will administer resources and control projects within an area.

* Executive management will establish project priorities and monitor project progress.

Obviously, project management should not be restricted to a handful of people or projects. Dozens of projects may be active at any one time, involving hundreds of workers across departmental boundaries. Synchronization of the work effort is required to maximize effect and minimize confusion. Project management, therefore, should be viewed as a corporate philosophy as opposed to a technique used by a select few. Only when a standard and consistent approach to Project Management is adopted by a company will it become an integral part of the corporate culture. We will then hear less about why Project Management fails, and more of how the company is prospering.

First published: April 18, 2005

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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE PROBLEM WITH PILLS

BRYCE ON LIFE

- It's pop-pop time around the clock.

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The size of the drug culture in our country is truly amazing. We start popping pills as little kids for vitamins and to treat such things as the common cold. As we get older, we take them for just about every ailment we have, be it for mucous, fungus, rashes, infections, aches and pains, or just to get high. Not sure what your problem is? Pop a pill. This mentality has led to the deaths of many entertainers. Instead of dealing with reality, we take a pill to buzz us up.

A few years ago, I was amazed by the number of pills my father took in the morning. It was easily a handful, and I looked at him like he was some sort of chemistry experiment. Since then, I was always mindful of the number of pills I took for whatever reason, and determined to stay away from them.

Lately though, pills have slowly crept into my life. I take a red pill to dry my sinuses, a blue diet pill, a little brown pill for my osteoarthritis. On the weekends, after working in the yard, it is not uncommon for me to pop some Advil to tackle body-aches. If I come down with a cold, it's pop-pop time. Actually, I think a good Scotch is better medicine.

Whereas I wondered how my father had come to take so many pills, now I find I carry pills of my own wherever I go. And I believe the influx of pills is a disturbing sign of aging. I wouldn't be surprised to learn the average pharmacist can probably guess your age based on the volume and types of pills you take.

Some people carry their pills in zip-locked plastic bags, others use designer purses and murses (I guess they want to make an impression), and others use well organized plastic trays, be it for the days of a single week, or for a whole month. As to the latter, much time is devoted to sorting pills into such trays. It's rather impressive the number of pills they can contain, representing a substantial investment in money. Such pills are used for a regular regiment, but for other ailments, such as a cold, a generous backup of pills is maintained in our home base, be it prescription or over-the-counter.

So prevalent are pills in America, I would wager there is probably enough pills in the average household to fill a gallon milk jug. So, the mindset is clear; Got a problem? Pop a pill. Instead of using natural cures, take a pill as the panacea du jour. Want to feel up? Take a stimulus. Need to calm down? Take a depressant. Why I didn't invest in the pharmaceutical industry years ago is beyond me.

This also explains why we will never find a solution for the opioid problem in this country; pills have become an intrical part of our way of life. Now where is my Fred Flinstone fix for the day?

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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

A TALE OF TWO VIDEOS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Are we willing pawns of the media?

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Last week, shortly after the Florida primary election, I happened to sit down with some friends over a friendly libation or two. We discussed many things, but the conversation inevitably turned to politics due to the outcome of the election. Aside from myself, the others leaned to the Democrats and do not like President Trump, claiming he acts "unpresidential." His record of accomplishments is meaningless to them, just his "unpresidential" character. Frankly, I do not understand this mentality. Thank God for his unorthodox behavior. Other presidents may have acted "presidential," but look at the mess they left us. As Trump says at his rallies, "It is a lot easier to act presidential than to do what I do."

During the conversation, my friends contended President Trump is a racist. Naturally, I challenged their source. Nothing was forthcoming other than they believed he influenced GOP nominee for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' conduct whereby he used the word "monkey" in an on-air interview. The press lept on this and accused him of being a racist. At that moment, I was unfamiliar with the interview, but I looked it up on YouTube afterwards and found he had said, "The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases..." This was a reference to the Florida economy and the perceived problems should the Democrats get elected in November.

DeSantis' use of the word "monkey" went viral overnight and voters were left with the impression the candidate was a racist (as well as President Trump). This was the media's attempt to smear DeSantis by making something out of nothing. Interestingly, President Obama made use of the same expression in the same context (click for VIDEO). If Cong. DeSantis is a racist then, most definitely, former President Obama is one as well. Yet he was never accused as such by the news media.

In my response to my friends, I mentioned a recent meeting President Trump had with black pastors at the White House. During the session, one of the pastor's said, "This is probably the most pro-active administration regarding urban America and the faith-based community, in my lifetime." And continued by saying, "This is the most pro-black president in our lifetime." The video is also available on YouTube (click HERE; and go to 17:10 in the meeting).

My friends were unaware of this video. I was only made aware of it a few days before by a friend on social media. As to the news media, they buried the story as it was complimentary to the president.

I do not suffer under the illusion our president is a saint, but then again, none of us are. What's the old expression, "Let he who is without sin cast the first rock"? The problem is, the news media has been throwing a barrage of rocks at the president since his first day in office. This flies in the face of their August 16th newspaper editorials claiming their innocence in covering Mr. Trump. These two videos demonstrate the opposite.

The DeSantis video goes well beyond Fake News, it is malicious malignment at its worse. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a bald faced liar.

What disturbs me is my friends are willing pawns of the news media and do not contest the integrity of their reporting. In other words, they are perfectly willing to allow the media do the thinking for them.

Yes, I am angry, when I see an insignificant story like the DeSantis interview blown out of proportion based on a false supposition. I am angry when the public is not made aware of the accomplishments of Mr. Trump, not just his meeting with the black pastors, but events like the Consumer Price Index hitting an 18 year high or the re-development of the NAFTA treaty, all of which are either falsely maligned or deliberately hidden from public view. Yes, I am angry when I see such injustice.

It is no small wonder the public is gravitating to social media to get their news as they no longer trust the news media. Who would have ever thought YouTube would be more reliable in video coverage than the main stream media?

I guess it is time to start picketing the news media. No, they are most definitely not "fair and balanced." Better yet, just turn them off and seek the truth on social media, you won't find it in the main stream media.

Keep the Faith!

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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

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