Category Archives: Politics
BRANDING THE MORAL VALUES OF CONSERVATIVES
BRYCE ON MORALITY & POLITICS
- How the media controls the image of conservatives.
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Last month I was asked to give an overview of my new seminar “Stand Up for MORALITY” at a local Republican Club. This was a condensed version of my seminar where I discuss the properties of morality, describe how it applies to Americans, and have attendees work through problems. In case you’re wondering, this seminar is politically and religiously neutral. It just happened that the Republicans invited me in as do other groups. During the seminar, I asked the group to define some moral values that everyone could abide by, not just themselves. After much discussion, the group settled on the following:
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Respect elders and those in superior position.
Adhere to the laws, rules and regulations of the land.
Help, aid, and assist all persons less fortunate, as I am able to.
Not wrong, cheat or defraud another.
Respect the property of others.
Work faithfully, professionally, and industriously for those employing my services.
Respect the dignity of the human spirit and treat people equitably.
They could have defined more, but we were limited by time. These responses are actually quite typical as many people in this country share these values. Knowing I was in the presence of a political group, I next asked them if these were the values the media used to portray the GOP, to which I received an emphatic, “No!” Instead, they felt the media slandered them by portraying them as:
Greedy; consumed more with the almighty dollar than people.
Insensitive to the needs of others.
Were environmentally reckless.
Possess radical views on gun control.
Racists.
Warmongers.
Unreasonably resists change.
Stuck in the past.
Inclined to create mayhem in order to overthrow the government.
There is something to be said in their argument. This particular presentation happened to occur during the week of the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15th. It wasn’t until Friday, the 19th, when the final suspect was apprehended. In the meantime, there was considerable speculation as to who the perpetrators were, particularly the media, to wit:
* Chris Matthews of MS-NBC blamed the “radical right” for the bombings.
* Lawrence O’Donnell, also of MS-NBC claimed the National Rifle Association (NRA) helped the bombers get away.
* Stephanie Johnson, a public affairs representative with the U.S. Forest Service blamed the Tea Party for the bombing.
Other liberals also made accusations that conservatives were behind the April 15th bombings. They were all undoubtedly surprised to learn the suspects, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, were born in Russia, of Chechen descent, and believed in Islam. Although they had immigrated to the United States as children, and were permanent residents (only one of the brothers had become a naturalized citizen). In other words, the media was disappointed the attack was caused by outsiders as opposed to conservatives in this country.
Since the 2012 national election, the media has been insisting the GOP needs to change in order to attract voters of all nationalities. To do so, they suggest conservatives change their views on such things as marriage, immigration, the national debt, entitlements, etc. This would mean a dramatic change in their moral values as expressed earlier, something which is virtually difficult if not impossible for anyone to do. Knowing this, the media will likely continue to villify the character of conservatives thereby tainting their image to the public. I believe they now call this “branding” or perhaps “brainwashing” would be more appropriate.
Conservatives have only themselves to blame as they do not take the media to task over how they are portrayed. Instead, they need to take the argument directly to the public and explain precisely what their moral values are, and by doing so, the public may come to the realization that conservative values are no different than their own. For example:
Helping their neighbors.
An honest dollar for an honest day’s work.
The sanctity of life.
That a person must be given the opportunity to try their hand at any business venture they are so inclined.
That each person needs to lead an honorable and worthwhile life.
Unveiling the true moral values of conservatives could work wonders in terms of demystifying what they truly represent, something the media already knows and is desperate to refute. Frankly, conservatives are not nearly as frightening as they are portrayed by the press. Most probably have the same values as you do.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: THE DECLINE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP – They’re are getting harder and harder to find.
LAST TIME: WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY TEACHING? – Politics in the classroom.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington “The Morning News with Dave and Lance” with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY TEACHING?
BRYCE ON POLITICS
- Politics in the classroom.
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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.
As you know, I’ve been discussing issues pertaining to the development of moral values, specifically how they are taught and learned. In my writings, I observed that schools are no longer teaching religion or morality, but this is not entirely true as there is considerable political discourse being added to the student’s curriculum by the teachers. To illustrate:
Florida Atlantic Stomp on Jesus – (March 27th) – a Junior at Florida Atlantic University was suspended for refusing to stomp on a piece of paper with the word “Jesus” boldly printed on it. The incident was part of an exercise in a class for Intercultural Communications. The incident became so controversial and garnered so much exposure, Florida Governor Rick Scott made inquiries of the university’s chancellor. Whether the word had been “Jesus” or “Mohammad,” the exercise had questionable intent and, according to university officials, it will not be used again. Had the Junior not objected, the incident would have likely been buried and the instructor not suspended.
Wisconsin teen says teachers bullying him over conservative views – (March 28th) – An Appleton, Wisconsin high school freshman published a log of the bullying he received from his teachers for his conservative views. The log chronicled the verbal abuse he took from teachers over a three year period, at three different schools, starting in eighth grade. Whether the student is conservative or liberal is immaterial; no student should suffer such an embarrassment.
Texas prof. under fire for allegedly forcing students to make anti-gun posters – (April 10th) – an assistant professor teaching a Graphic Design course at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas instructed her students to develop anti-gun posters as one of their assignments. Had the students been asked to choose either a pro-gun or anti-gun position, or the teacher not used the posters for political purposes, the problem would have likely not blossomed. Instead, a student filed a complaint with the university which began an investigation. Evidently, Texas law forbids professors from using their authority to compel others to advocate political causes,
Writing Assignment at Albany High School: Explain Why “Jews Are Evil” – (April 12th) – An unnamed Albany High School English teacher in New York, issued an assignment for the students to write an essay on why “Jews are evil.” A third of the class refused to comply and brought the matter before school officials. The teacher has since been placed on leave.
Dad Furious After Finding This Crayon-Written Paper in Florida 4th-Grader’s Backpack – (April 12th) – A mother and father in Jacksonville, Florida found a paper in their fourth-grader’s backpack. The paper, which had been written by their son in crayon as part of a class assignment, said, “I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure.” The son and his classmates were instructed to write this expression by their teacher. The assignment infuriated the student’s father who quickly brought it to the attention of school officials.
It used to be, you would occasionally hear of a story where a teacher would openly discuss their personal political views, such as the North Carolina high school teacher who yelled at a student, telling him that he could be arrested for criticizing Barack Obama, but these seemed to be sporadic outbursts. Now, it seems reports of teachers promoting their political agendas has become more prevalent, such as these five stories within a 15 day period.
Back in my public High School days, the teachers never discussed politics, unless of course it was to describe the mechanics of politics in our Government classes. As students, we had our suspicions as to which teachers were liberal and conservative, but to their credit, they remained tight-lipped over politics. It’s evidently not this way anymore, as politics in the classroom has become more commonplace. As I mentioned in my eBook, “Stand Up for MORALITY,” the discussion of politics is a discussion of morality in disguise, which is normally frowned upon in this day and age of political correctness. For example, discussions about the federal debt, marriage, gun control, entitlements, etc. is not simply a political discussion; it is a moral discussion.
Having teachers preach their view of morality and politics places students in the awkward position of questioning the values possessed by their parents. Fearing for their grades, students are generally inhibited to stand up for their rights. Such fear is simply unacceptable. Those students who rose to refute their teachers have displayed great moral courage as they faced retribution.
I wonder how much of this could be avoided with just a little discipline, such as school uniforms (for both students and teachers alike), and a little respect for both sides. It’s a shame we cannot seem to discuss morality more openly and respectfully. Then again, someone always seems to have an agenda.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: BRANDING THE MORAL VALUES OF CONSERVATIVES – How the media controls the image of conservatives.
LAST TIME: IN PRAISE OF SISTERS – The unique relationship between a brother and a sister.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington “The Morning News with Dave and Lance” with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
QUICK, WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR CONGRESSMAN?
BRYCE ON GOVERNMENT
– And how about your other government officials?
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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.
Let’s take a little quiz. See if you can name the following government officials (answer only those positions applicable to your area):
MUNICIPAL LEVEL
- Your Mayor
- Your City Manager
- Your Chief of Police
- Your City Clerk
COUNTY LEVEL
- Your Commissioners
- Your Superintendent of Schools
- Your Sheriff
- Your Tax Collector
- Your Property Appraiser
STATE LEVEL
- Your Governor
- Your Lieutenant Governor
- Your Attorney General
- Your State Senator
- Your House Representative
FEDERAL LEVEL
- Your President
- Your Vice President
- Your Secretary of State
- Your Chief of the Supreme Court
- Your Speaker of the House
- Your President of the Senate
- The Senators from your state
- Your House Representative
Okay, maybe you got a handful right, and maybe you cheated by looking them up on the Internet, but surprisingly many people do not know who their duly elected officials are, be it at the federal, state, county, or municipal level. Then again, maybe it’s not surprising as most people are rather apathetic about their officials thereby allowing them to have their way with the public. If you have a question or want to voice a criticism, it would make sense to at least know who your officials are. Whether you voted for the person or not, or of your party or not, your officials have a responsibility to represent you. After all, they were elected to work for you, not the other way around (which is why I listed the officials as “Your”).
Fortunately, there are some good Internet addresses available to you to track down your officials:
U.S. House of Representatives – you must supply your zip code, assuming you know it.
U.S. Senators – again you have to know that pesky zip code.
My favorite site though is “Contacting the Congress” which is a comprehensive listing of all of your representatives in one place.
You might also want to have your children take the same quiz and test their knowledge about their government officials. Better yet, check your basic knowledge of the world around you is the Pew Research Center – The News IQ Quiz.
Check it out. If you didn’t score well, perhaps it’s time for you to either brush up on your general knowledge of “Your” Government or burn your voter registration card.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: ALL I ASK ABOUT RUNNING A MEETING – The fundamentals are not as complicated as you might think.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
SLIPPING INTO A NATIONAL DEPRESSION
BRYCE ON POLITICS
- And how the Tango can help.
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I recently read an article claiming Tango dancing was an effective means to eliminate stress and depression. Evidently there is something about the legendary South American dance exhilarating to the human spirit. Maybe it has something to do with restoring confidence. Afterwards, it occurred to me this might just be the tonic needed to lift the country out of the doldrums we are in.
Not long ago, I asked my accountant if he knew of any business in the area which was experiencing any true success; not just keeping their head above water, but was really doing well. After pondering the question for a few seconds he said, “No,” he couldn’t think of any. Keep in mind, my accountant’s forte is in the area of small businesses in the Tampa Bay area. He may not know many big businesses, but he knows a considerable number of people and small businesses in the area, most of whom had settled into a survivalist mode of operation as opposed to a dynamic proactive company. I personally happen to know some medical equipment suppliers who are doing well, and some personal injury attorneys who know how to play the insurance game, but aside from this not too many other successful businesses. Owners are still trying new ideas and innovations, but most are cutting spending and treading water.
Over the last ten years I have also seen a decline in business ethics, possibly because of this survivalist mentality. Professional courtesy and craftsmanship have been replaced by micromanagement and cronyism. Companies may talk about teamwork and high professional standards, but this is mostly facade. It’s still a “dog-eat-dog” world out there, maybe more so. To “Baby Boomers” like myself, the corporate landscape has radically changed since we entered the work force under the tutelage of “The Greatest Generation.” Today, it’s more about technology and less about people. More importantly, we have transitioned from a “can do” mentality to “can’t do” or “why bother?” attitude. Entrepreneurs no longer talk about new industries to conquer. Most are burned out and want to quietly retire, but everyone is afraid to.
In our schools, “helicopter parents” keep a tight reign over their offspring. No decision is made without parental approval, particularly at the college level. It’s no small wonder young people can easily adapt to today’s corporate culture of micromanagement.
Retirees worry they have enough in their portfolio to see them through to their final days. Confidence in social security and Medicare is shaken. So much so, Baby Boomers are delaying retirement as they lack confidence they will be able to afford it. Despite this, there is a whole generation of doctors who are contemplating early retirement due to the harassment of government bureaucracy.
I don’t know anyone, be it liberal or conservative, who has supreme confidence in our politicians in Washington, or the future of our country for that matter. Everyone is on tender hooks.
Plain and simply, the mood of the country is not good. This is why I believe we are slipping into a psychological depression, a national sense of hopelessness. Business people lack confidence in the future, as is the average worker. Our national psyche is probably as low as it was during the Great Depression of the 1930′s when we felt we had lost control over our destiny. We are no longer optimistic about our future and our character has become highly volatile.
To overcome this problem we need to restore our confidence. What is needed are some successes or victories. Better yet, a clear vision setting the country in a positive direction. Americans do not just want to survive, they want to grow and prosper. Anything less causes a mood of frustration and hopelessness. Unfortunately, the country feels rudderless and is spinning in circles as the government is gridlocked. Unless we can regain our composure and confidence, our depression will only deepen.
Then again, there is always the Tango.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: SOMETIMES THE OLD MEDICINES ARE THE BEST – Why won’t they just go away?
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
MANIPULATING THE MASSES
BRYCE ON POLITICS
- And the means by which leaders persuade their followers.
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The concept of leaders and followers is as old as mankind where one person champions a path for others to follow. Leaders believe they possess the knowledge and skills to take their followers to the promised land. They do this for several reasons: compassion for others, ego, greed, or it is simply their job to do so, as in business. Followers are searchers, be it for knowledge, truth, direction, or because they have no alternative. People will follow leaders either willfully, reluctantly, or by coercion, such as by threat of punishment. It depends on the follower’s perception of their leader. They either have confidence in the leader’s ability and trust his judgement without question, they lack confidence but are willing to follow, or are resigned to their fate.
Perhaps the single biggest attribute of a leader is his/her ability to motivate the masses to action. Religion holds the best examples of such leaders including Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, other religious prophets, and members of the clergy. In the business world, people like Ford, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Edison, and others reshaped the world. In American government, people like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and the Roosevelts had a profound effect. Even dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, Castro, and many others rose to positions of power mostly through their skills of oratory, along with some persuasive military force behind them.
For this to work properly, followers must become subordinate to the leader; this can be done either through some friendly persuasion, fear of force, or some other means, and herein is where politics is born. Leaders must use various techniques to inspire their followers, be it logic, trust in judgement, an appeal to their emotions, or a whip and a chair. To cement people’s perceptions, propaganda is used. Leaders have an intuitive appreciation for the power of propaganda, some more than others. Controlling both the message and the media by which it is communicated is imperative so followers will not deviate from the leader’s message or vision. The media, therefore, is the Kool-Aid the masses must drink.
Recently, famed newspaper columnist Bob Woodward and television commentator Lanny Davis were taken to task by the White House for some of their comments considered critical of the President. Both were threatened in some form as a means of retribution, something considered alarming even by the media supporting the president. This is a considerable departure from the past. For example, even in the tense and dark days of Watergate, there is no evidence the Nixon administration threatened Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who were credited for blowing the whistle. Presidents are certainly not happy with everything written about them, but the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech which, in theory, provides a shield to protect the press.
During the 1930′s-1940′s, the White House convinced the media not to photograph FDR in his wheelchair as they didn’t want to depict America’s leader with a disability. The press obliged. This was trivial in nature compared to the tactics now being implemented to manipulate the media. In addition to sharp criticisms, we are now hearing about such things as revoking press corps privileges, gag orders, censorship, discrediting people, and blocking news organizations not in line with White House policy.
It would appear, an organized department of dirty tricks or propaganda is in effect in the executive branch. If true, this goes way beyond fair play and dangerously into a constitutional controversy over the First Amendment. The 2012 Amber Lyon/CNN incident is indicative of the control the government is trying to exercise. One thing is for certain, how the press operates today is unlike the Watergate years. Journalists are being kept on a short leash for political purposes. The result is a press coerced to follow White House doctrine and not allowed to deviate from it. It is not so much that the main street media is biased, as much as they are being controlled by the government. By towing the White House’s line, the media is just the Kool-Aid the president needs to manipulate the masses.
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.” – George Orwell
To many, leadership is about control and how much he/she wants to exercise it. It appears we now have a different type of leader in the White House, one who acutely understands the power of the media, and knows how to manipulate it to serve his purposes. However, as many American politicians have discovered over the years, if the leader leads with an iron hand, his days are numbered, unless he has a strong military to back him. Americans like a benevolent leader, one who knows how to work out differences with the Congress as opposed to being confrontational. Recent examples include Bill Clinton working with Newt Gingrich, and Ronald Reagan with Tip O’Neill. A president can dictate terms when his party controls both chambers of Congress, but he has to compromise when another party controls a part of the government, as the GOP currently does in the House. Confrontational tactics, such as accusing blame and smearing reputations, has never proven to be effective to promote compromise. Then again, maybe the president is not interested in compromise.
Unlike his predecessors, it appears President Obama intends to blame the GOP for the country’s woes and hold himself blameless. This is part of a long-range strategy to discredit the Republicans in order to re-take the House of Representatives in 2014, thereby giving him carte blanche to do what he wants in his last two years in office. Such tactics are unlike anything we have witnessed in recent memory. To do this though, the President will rely heavily on his control of the media to sell it to the masses.
What is unsettling is the prospect that this may be the first President to never pass a budget during both his terms of office.
Somehow I am reminded of the old Rolling Stones song, “You can’t always get what you want” (But if you try sometime, you just might find, You get what you need). What the country needs is a leader who knows how to get the job done and not allow the country to stagnate.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: CATCHING A COLD – You can run, but you cannot hide from the beast.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
POST OFFICE INEFFICIENCIES
BRYCE ON POLITICS & MANAGEMENT
- How far behind is the USPS operating behind its competitors?
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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced it is going to suspend Saturday deliveries of mail. Actually, we shouldn’t be too surprised as paper based mail has been diminishing over the years, thanks to e-mail, electronic banking, and rising postal costs. I know many businesses who avoid the USPS as much as possible and prefer the service of other carriers instead. All of this adds up to a decline in revenues and an increase in expenses for the USPS who is now scrambling to reorganize themselves in order to survive.
One of the key lessons I preach when working with young people is, “Everything begins with a sale.” Business functions such as administration, engineering, research and development, and customer service are nice, but all employees should be cognizant of the fact that everything begins with a sale. Consequently, employees should be mindful that everything should be geared towards producing income and minimizing costs. In the case of the USPS, either the product isn’t priced properly, or they’re running an unproductive operation.
One clear indicator is the amount of profit associated with each employee. To illustrate, let’s consider a commercial enterprise, such as the Ford Motor Company, who in 2012 had 164,000 employees. The company had $136.26B in revenues and $128.632B in expenses, leaving an operating profit of $7.628B. If we divide the profit by the total number of employees we find each employee is responsible for incurring $46,512 of the profit. Think of this as a performance measure. It is an important figure which every employee should be cognizant of, yet few companies publicize.
Let’s next compare the USPS and its shipping rivals in the same light:
| EMPLOYEES | REVENUES | EXPENSES | PROFIT | PROFIT/EMPLOYEE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | 546,000 (2012) | $ 65.223 billion (2012) | $80.964 billion (2012) | $-15.741B | $-28,830/employee |
| DHL | 423,348 (2011) | $ 71.169 billion (2011) | $70.693 billion (2011) | $ .476B | $ 1,124/employee |
| UPS | 398,000 (2012) | $ 54.127 billion (2012) | $52.784 billion (2012) | $ 1.343B | $ 3,374/employee |
| FedEx | 300,000 (2012) | $ 42.7 billion (2012) | $39.494 billion (2012) | $ 3.206B | $ 10,686/employee |
NOTE: Latest available data, courtesy of the corporate web sites and Wikipedia.
Thanks to a considerable operating loss in 2012, USPS employees are operating in the hole. Also notice in the comparison, even though the USPS has the most employees, it has the worst profit performance. Not all of its shipping competitors topped the revenues of the USPS, but all were considerably less in terms of expenses. This may be indicative of the difference between running a commercial enterprise and one operated by the government.
There are actually many variables affecting a company’s performance, such as economic issues, changing government regulations, and business decisions, but making each employee mindful of their individual contribution raises their consciousness as to what should be best for the company overall.
Suspension of Saturday deliveries may be a good idea to reduce costs, but I suspect it is another example of a bloated government bureaucracy running amok and needs more serious cuts as opposed to minimizing service. I am reminded of the Bryce’s Law, “Do not try to apply a band-aid when a tourniquet is required to stop the bleeding.”
Perhaps it’s time for a little Enterprise Engineering to flatten this government behemoth. Otherwise, the taxpayers will be asked to once again bail out this model of inefficiency. If it was a commercial enterprise, it would have likely perished by now and its shipping competitors would have taken over (and we wouldn’t be discussing the suspension of Saturday service).
If the government is having this much trouble running a monopoly like the post office, imagine what they’ll do with Obamacare.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: MY “CROWNING” ACHIEVEMENT – Why my visit to the dentist was like digging the English Chunnel.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
LONG LIVE THE FAX MACHINE
BRYCE ON BUSINESS
- Why +830,000 physicians rely on this aging technology.
(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.
As a small businessman, I haven’t had to use a fax machine in quite some time. Like most people these days, I rely primarily on e-mail. If I have a lengthy document, I convert it to a PDF file and attach it to the e-mail. Many years ago, we relied heavily on fax machines to communicate with customers overseas (and TWX machines before that), but in recent times we have little use for such devices. We keep a fax machine in the office for “just in case” situations, but we mostly leave it unplugged to avoid the many spam faxes still plaguing the public. I am also able to interface with other systems to upload/download data in a variety of file formats with Delimited ASCII being the most prevalent.
I recently visited my doctor for a routine checkup. We’ve known each other for years and I am always fascinated by the latest medical technology in his practice. His office consisted of a modest sized staff with the typical number and type of computers you would expect to support administrative needs. Interestingly, I noticed he had a fax machine which was slowly chugging away and spitting out voluminous reports. Frankly, I was surprised to see a fax machine being so actively used; certainly he transmitted/received data by e-mail or some other computer protocol I thought. Actually, No.
Although physicians have abundant computer software available to them for communication purposes, it is not as actively used as the fax machine which is the true work horse of their office. The doctor claimed his office received on the average 18,000 faxes each year. This does not include sending documents which is probably just as voluminous. Patient records, test results, prescriptions, hospital reports, etc. are all regularly sent by fax, and no other device. This means the data has to be re-keyed into the doctor’s computers by his staff. It doesn’t take a systems man like me to realize this is not an efficient or cost-effective approach for operating any office. Frankly, I was thunderstruck just how primitive the office systems were, and this was just one office. As I was to learn, most doctors operate in the same manner thereby representing a model of system dysfunctionality on a colossal scale.
A mandate from the federal government a few years ago requires doctors to digitize all of their medical records (see “Turning Everyone into Data Entry Clerks”). This means every medical institution in this country has been busy entering data about all of their patients, a herculean task which the medical community is currently embroiled in. To accomplish this, a variety of medical software packages have been introduced with little or no compatibility between them. This means your medical records with your General Practitioner cannot be read by another doctor, unless he happens to use the same medical records software, which would be a very remote coincidence. There are, of course, strict privacy issues concerning the exchange of patient records. Regardless, assuming consent is given by the patient, there is no easy way to electronically exchange data.
Blame for this incompatibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the federal government who has not devised a standard file format for exchanging data. They may have mandated all doctors digitize their patient records, but they never devised a means for exchanging data. This incompatibility issue is so glaring, you have to suspect it is premeditated.
Now consider the enormity of this problem; there are over 830,000 physicians in this country, all of which are busily digitizing patient records, none of which can be exchanged electronically with other doctors. So how do they communicate? You guessed it; by fax. It also means all of these doctors and their staffs have to work double-time to record patient data as transmitted by fax. Doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?
Let’s take it a step further, assuming my friend’s office annual workload of 18,000 faxes is an average, and considering there are over 830K doctors, this translates into over 15 trillion pieces of paper being printed each year by physicians alone (not counting hospitals). This isn’t exactly environmentally friendly, but certainly supports the bottom-line of paper companies.
This system snafu places a significant burden on doctors and inhibits their ability to practice medicine and care for their patients. Not surprising, a mutiny is in the offing. Tired of growing governmental bureaucracy, many physicians are opting to retire early or quit their practices outright, thereby creating a shortage of competent doctors.
My visit to my doctor’s office taught me a couple of things; first, the fax machine is the Achilles’ heel of any physician’s office, without it, the doctor is lost. Second, this need not be the case if the federal government would just devise some simple standards for data exchange. However, knowing the government, I do not think I’ll hold my breath. I’m quite confident doctors will go on killing trees for many years to come.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: POST OFFICE INEFFICIENCIES – How far behind is the USPS operating behind its competitors?
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
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 criticsm 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.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved
NEXT UP: THINGS I NEVER GET TIRED OF – Why do we keep coming back for more?
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
POLITICAL DEMOGRAPHICS
BRYCE ON POLITICS
- True, the president won Florida, but certainly not by a landslide.
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Last October, just prior to the presidential election, I made some predictions regarding the demographics of the voting public. More recently, I attended a presentation given by a statistician who waded through the election data in our area. Ultimately, I learned my predictions were correct, but in the process I also discovered several other factors I hadn’t considered.
According to the statistician, the president may have narrowly won Florida, but Republicans made some in-roads when you study the numbers. For example, more Republicans voted than Democrats in Pinellas County. This was in sharp contrast to 2008 where Democrats turned out in force. Not surprising, older people favored Romney, particularly white men. In contrast, younger people favored Obama, particularly women. Aside from the political parties, it was independent voters who carried the day for Obama; 61.4% to 32.28%. Translation: Republicans may have been successful in rallying the party faithful, but did a lousy job selling their message to people outside of their party. One factor the local GOP organizers had to contend with was a liberal media, including the local “Tampa Bay Times.”
Not surprising, southeastern Florida ultimately turned the tide for Obama, predominantly the Latino vote. This means Romney was unable to appeal to such voters, despite the popularity of Senator Rubio from that area. Perhaps if Rubio had been on the ticket as vice president, it might have been another story.
As for me, the most illuminating facts presented by the statistician regarded how votes were cast. There were three variables studied: absentee ballots, early voting, and voting at precincts on election day. Surprisingly, more ballots were cast by absentee as opposed to the other two. Whereas more Democratic voters submitted absentee ballots, more Republicans voted at their precincts on election day, and relatively few voted early. The Republicans may have won at the precincts, but lost simply because the Democrats made a concerted effort to have people vote by absentee ballot.
Plain and simply, the Obama organization ran a better campaign than the Romney team. One of their secrets was the Obama “app” which was used to monitor and track voter interests, thereby giving them the means to determine the hot buttons of the public with a high degree of precision. The Republicans simply had no such “app” and campaigned using older methods.
According to the statistics, I discovered the Florida race was a lot closer than I had heard through the media. True, the president won, but certainly not by a landslide. In fact, the difference was razor thin. Are the Republicans devastated by the defeat? Hardly. If anything, they learned a painful lesson about the tactics required for the next campaign in 2014.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: PUTTING SERVICE BACK INTO “SERVICE STATION” – Will it play in today’s world?
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST).
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
LESSONS OF LEADERSHIP (Part 2 of 2)
BRYCE ON BOOKS
- Two published biographies, about Churchill & Jackson, can teach us some important lessons regarding leadership.
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On a recent vacation, I read two books:
“CHURCHILL & SEA POWER” – Christopher M. Bell (2013, Oxford University Press, ISBN 987-0-19-969357-3) – Bell, is an Associate Professor of History at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia..
“AMERICAN LION – ANDREW JACKSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE” – Jon Meacham (2008, Random House, ISBN 978-0-8129-7346-4) – Meacham, is executive editor and executive VP at Random House. He is also a former editor-in-chief of “Newsweek.”
Both books had their own unique story to tell, but from my perspective they provided me with some interesting insight into what made Churchill and Jackson effective leaders. In Part One I discussed the Churchill book. In Part Two, herein, I will address the Jackson book and make some conclusions about both leaders.
“AMERICAN LION – ANDREW JACKSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE”
This book has been out for a few years already, but I purchased it as I see a parallel between the pre-Civil War years of the United States and today. Jackson was the most influential president of this period. Naturally, I wanted to know why. This book also received some excellent reviews. Meacham’s new book on Thomas Jefferson was recently released, which I hope to read soon.
The first half of “American Lion” reminded me of television’s “Downton Abbey” filled with gossip and faux pas of protocol. Coming from the western frontier, Jackson was initially considered a country bumpkin by the Washington elite. He surprised them by his observance of poise, etiquette, intelligence, and understanding of politics. The Washington establishment quickly learned not to underestimate him.
Jackson possessed a paternalistic quality, whereby he considered the citizens his kin. Not surprising, Jackson is regarded as the founder of the Democratic Party, “the party of the people.” He had a strong sense of family probably because he came from a broken one himself. Jackson never knew his father as he had died prior to Andrew’s birth. The three Jackson brothers, all in their teens, served in the Revolutionary War which ultimately claimed the lives of Andrew’s brothers. Young Andrew was close to his mother, Elizabeth, but alas she too perished during the war. Jackson thereby became an orphan at age 14.
Years after her death, Jackson was fond of quoting the advice his mother gave him shortly before she died:
“Andrew, if I should not see you again, I wish you to remember and treasure up some things I have already said to you: in this world you will have to make your own way. To do that you must have friends. You can make friends by being honest, and you can keep them by being steadfast. You must keep in mind that friends worth having will in the long run expect as much from you as they give to you. To forget an obligation or be ungrateful for a kindness is a base crime – not merely a fault or a sin, but an actual crime. Men guilty of it sooner or later must suffer the penalty. In personal conduct be always polite but never obsequious. None will respect you more than you respect yourself. Avoid quarrels as long as you can without yielding to imposition. But sustain your manhood always. Never bring a suit in law for assault and battery or for defamation. The law affords no remedy for such outrages that can satisfy the feelings of a true man. Never would the feelings of others. Never brook wanton outrage upon your own feelings. If you ever have to vindicate your feelings or defend your honor, do it calmly. If angry at first, wait till your wrath cools before you proceed.”
This became the law of his life and gives us great insight into his personality.
His nickname became “Old Hickory” which denoted his toughness, particularly during the War of 1812, where he earned his celebrity as general by defeating the British in New Orleans. This propelled him to a political career. Even though he was defeated in his first campaign for president, he went on to win two consecutive terms from 1829 to 1837. Although his wife, Rachel, saw him win election, she died just before Jackson was installed as president. Feeling lonely, Jackson recruited his nephew, Andrew Donelson, to become his personal secretary and by doing so the Donelson family took up quarters in the White House. Donelson’s 21 year old wife, Emily, thereby became the official hostess of the White House. This particularly agreed with Jackson as he desperately craved a family environment.
Prior to Jackson’s arrival at the Capitol, the executive branch was considered weaker than the legislative branch (Congress). This all changed under Jackson. Because of his strong personality, coupled with toughness and perseverance, Jackson expanded the role of the presidency, much to the consternation of Congress. Three points were of particular interest to him: a love of country, a commitment to the Union, and the people. These three elements were the variables Jackson considered as he conquered many difficult challenges of the day, to wit:
* He paid off the federal debt. He considered being beholden to creditors a dangerous policy to pursue (something I wish today’s government would embrace).
* He eliminated the Bank of the United States. To Jackson, the bank had become too influential and catered to the rich as opposed to the people (again, another parallel to today).
* He upheld American interests abroad when threatened. He took retribution from Sumatran pirates who attacked and plundered the American merchant ship, “Friendship.” He also stood up to France who initially refused to pay off a war debt of $5 million. Fearing Jackson would go to war with France, the French paid off their debt.
* He moved the Indians west of the Mississippi, a highly controversial move as Jackson subverted existing treaties. Nonetheless, he felt obliged to bring safety and security to the country.
* He put down an uprising in South Carolina to secede from the Union. Jackson believed in states rights, but he was deeply committed to maintaining the Union. 32 years later, South Carolina would secede thereby marking the beginning of the American Civil War.
All of these matters were difficult and needed to be addressed. As in war, Jackson rose to the occasion and he tackled them head-on. Although he could be political, Jackson would be confrontational after his mind had been made up: “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”
Jackson’s legacy was expansion of the power of the presidency thereby earning him the wrath of the Congress. His adversaries were primarily John C. Calhoun of South Carolina (and his first Vice President), and Henry Clay of Kentucky, both of whom characterized Jackson as tyrannical. Jackson was ultimately censured by the Congress which chaffed him greatly, causing him to spend years to expunge the decision which was done shortly before his death. Despite the Congress, the American people loved him, which baffled the congressmen of the day. His dominance as president was such that Jackson overshadowed all of his successors until Lincoln who became the first president since Jackson to be elected to consecutive terms of office. All others had been elected to just one.
Churchill and Jackson
Reading these two books, back-to-back, I marveled at the skill of Churchill and Jackson as leaders. Both were intelligent and decisive men; they abhorred indecisiveness and understood the necessity of tackling a problem immediately as opposed to waiting and allowing it to fester. They both knew how to improvise, going so far as to bend the rules as long as the means justified the end result. Both were men of integrity where their word was their bond and they assumed responsibility for their actions even in the face of disaster. And they both possessed a strong sense of family. Perhaps their most important attribute was their sense of morality; that they always tried to do what was right and honorable.
As Jackson wrote an acquaintance in 1826: “You cannot have forgotten the advice I give to all my young friends, that is to say, as they pass through life have apparent confidence in all, real confidence in none, until from actual experience it is found that the individual is worthy of it – from this rule I have never departed… When I have found men mere politicians, bending to the popular breeze and changing with it, for the self-popularity, I have ever shunned them, believing that they were unworthy of my confidence – but still treat them with hospitality and politeness.”
I only wish our political leaders of today possessed such strength of character.
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 30 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 © 2013 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES – Some ideas on how to motivate your workers. And, No, one size does not fit all.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12:30-3:00pm ET), and KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays. 6:00-10:00am MST).
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
