You Are Going to Need A New Excuse

 

Since COVID was defined as a pandemic, it has been used as the excuse for everything.

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FLORIDA  
WEST COAST        
Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD 

Well, here we are. The vaccinations for COVID-19 are going well. A growing and significant number of people in the United States have been inoculated, in many area's hospitalizations and deaths are way down.

All of this presents a real problem for those who are consistent excuse makers.

Since COVID was defined as a pandemic, it has been used as the excuse for everything.

COVID is the excuse for: long lines, for poor or no customer service, the reason your car doesn't get repaired on time, and just about everything else that's gone wrong with business and commerce for the last year.

Even my bank got into the act. They reduced hours, reduced the number of people in the lobby, and it didn't matter what it was when I called the bank to ask what had happened in one of my accounts, the excuse was always the same, “Well you know the COVID thing...”

First it was comical, then it got annoying. Appointments were canceled; appointment times were moved without notifications; packages were delayed; products were not available on the shelf, and even as things begin to open up, every time, there's a problem the excuse is “oh it's the COVID-19 virus.”

There is some truth to the argument, that the COVID-19 virus had a profound effect on all of us and pretty much all that we do.

However, it also became the easiest excuse to use for not providing service, not going places, not holding up your end of responsibilities, at church, school, the social club or even at work.

However, all that is about to end as we get the COVID-19 virus more or less under control.

So, it's time to start looking for some new excuses about why as a society we don't perform.

So, here are some suggestions:

I don't have enough time
The Internet is down
I'm afraid of failure
We can't hire anybody
I'm not inspired
I need to find balance in my work and home life
It's not my fault; it's their fault
I can't overcome the inertia,
Not my job man
It's not original enough
I'm afraid of the competition
I got my expectations too high just thinking about it.

You can probably add a few of your own to the list. All you must do is just think for a few moments about your experiences over the past year or so.

We are all guilty, me included, for coming up with a convenient excuse about why we didn't do something.

We are just going to have to work a little harder at it in the next weeks and months because the easy out of not performing, not providing good service, not meeting deadlines, and generally not doing the job you are supposed to be doing is going away one vaccination at a time.

If you are really hard pressed, you can always fall back on some version of the old classic, “The dog ate my homework.”

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

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Scott Hopes as The New Manatee County Commissioner – Seriously?

 

Florida West Coast 
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD

Once again, the Manatee County Commission has shown its gross negligence in managing a County government.

Tuesday May 11th, 2021, in a surprise vote, the Manatee County Commission authorized board chair Vanessa Baugh, who is currently under investigation for an ethics violation, to negotiate a resolution and an agreement appointing Dr. Scott Hopes as the permanent County administrator.

I fully believe that Dr. Hopes is a competent administrator and his dedication to public service, including the Manatee County school board indicates his interest and commitment to the community.

However, he hardly has the credentials to manage a rapidly growing Florida County, or a county in any state. And absolutely no experience in dealing with the complex technical issues, governmental policy issues and the influence and control of large, powerful, wealthy, developers.

For some Background check out: The Bradenton Times Staff Report Article: County Commission Moves to Make Hopes Permanent Administrator.

The Manatee County Commission had previously committed to the public that they would perform a nationwide search, evaluate those candidates, and select a competent and qualified County administrator. Of course, they have made that promise before and did not follow through, and we saw how that worked out with Cheri Coryea.

 I'm not sure what the motivation is in this case. Maybe there are those on the County Commission who just don't want a professional County administrator who might get in the way of what their developer/supporters want done in Manatee County.

 Here is a quote from the Bradenton Times article, commission member George Kruse said, “That while he supported Hopes and agreed with the board's assessment of his performance thus far, it had only been a matter of weeks since Hopes had been put in the role, and that he could see "absolutely no advantage" in moving hastily while also breaking a commitment to the public.”

Given the high probability that the Manatee County administrator’s position is a career-ending job opportunity, based on the results of the last several people who have held the position, it will be interesting to see if Dr. Hopes is really interested in the job. The Manatee County school board is a much safer political position.

Somebody out in eastern Manatee County, is probably pulling the strings on this one and Dr. Hopes needs to be extremely careful that he does not become the next political pawn in the gold rush to develop Manatee County.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.
See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.

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