Gov. Charles W. Turnbull just doesn't get it.
He doesn't understand that he can't hand out cushy raises and hire new people for non-essential positions when he's asking rank-and-file employees to make huge sacrifices to help put this government back on sound financial footing.
It's like waving a red flag in front of an angry, pawing bull.
It doesn't matter that some of the raises are attached to promotions. It doesn't matter that he supposedly has eliminated some of the positions that the promotees once held. If you're broke, you're broke, and you just don't have money for that kind of stuff.
You especially don't have money to hire or give raises to your own relatives, your top aides and the relatives of other top officials.
You especially don't have money to hire public relations people for individual departments. In fact, the governor ought to be consolidating the highly paid public information officers scattered throughout government into one efficient, productive operation — presumably in Government House itself — that could handle public information for all departments. That would save money, not cost the taxpayers more than we were spending before.
The governor, through his actions, has created a serious credibility problem for himself and his administration at a time when he desperately needs the public's trust and confidence.
People are apprehensive about the upcoming reorganization plan and what it will mean to them. They are fearful of rumored layoffs or a reduced workweek. And now they are angry that they are being asked to tighten their belts — forgo raises, forget retroactive salary debts, give up five holidays — when others are still getting favored treatment.
Gov. Turnbull just doesn't get it. But we hope those who do can sit him down and explain the facts of life. It's still possible to take corrective action before that angry bull charges.
