We Must Ask Again – Just How Much More Of This Are We Going To Take?
We must ask again.
Just how much of this are we going to take?
Now that the Governor has issued an Executive Order raising the salaries for his Commissioners, the door is open for increases for the Senators as well.
So says the infamous Act 6905.
In order to “attract and retain a higher caliber” of individual to the Virgin Islands, the Governor has hired his new commissioners of public safety and health at a salary of $130,000. That speaks volumes about what he thinks about home grown talent.
He did this through an Executive Order amending Title 3 of the Virgin Islands Code that affects “all Executive Level 1 Classified Employees” indicating no restrictions on how many may receive salary increases under the new guidelines.
We will forego for a moment the obvious irony of this action in light of the “fiscal crisis”, recent government worker pay cuts and impending threatened layoffs. Rather, we point your attention to Section 8 of Act 6905, which states in part:
“Each member of the Legislature shall receive an annual salary … which salary shall be equal to the lowest annual compensation of the officers itemized in Title 3…”
While the move to increase other salaries may not come soon, once these new commissioners are confirmed – and they will be – the second wave will not be far behind.
Senate President Ronald Russell was heard today saying this action by the Governor sends a conflicting message to the community – this same Ronald Russell who voted for the Act that may result in his salary increase if the minimum salary of the commissioners is increased.
And while the familiar few voices in the Senate will protest, those salaries will be raised and those who benefit will shrug their shoulders and deny responsibility because after all, they didn’t change the law.
It is long past time for us to take responsibility for the continuing deluge of contradictory and damaging actions this group of government officials is inflicting on this community. Is there corruption? Yes. Are funds being misused? Absolutely. Is there a growing and blatant disregard for the engineered gap between the haves and the have nots? No question.
But what is fueling this abusive inferno is the apathy of the community and the willful participation of those who claim to have the interests of this community at heart.
The litany of abuse has been well chronicled, and to date, no substantive move to resist its progress has taken place. And as a result, months after many have taken a pay cut, as we watch daily as businesses close and costs continue to rise, the Governor had no hesitation (and surely felt no shame) in instituting pay increases for these new Commissioners weeks before even more government employees are slated to go home.
An opportunity to begin significant opposition occurred yesterday, and while the turnout was low, that is no reason to abandon the quest.
Unlike larger communities, our public officials live among us. We see them driving their government cars, we see them shopping and moving through the community. They are visible and reachable and should not be unapproachable.
If you don’t want to march with a group, then start marching up to them and letting them know that this situation is unacceptable. Let them feel the discontent and understand what it means to exist at a substandard level. Whether they were legally elected or not, they occupy positions as public officials and if you are among those who have a job, you are paying them.
The unemployment rate here is close to 10%. That means there are a whole lot of us out here who could be at hearings and committee meetings, usually held when those working cannot attend, to establish a presence and make their concerns known.
If we do not make this a sustained effort, many more of us will find ourselves in the position that one of our bloggers posted last night.
“Today, I could not afford a loaf of bread. Not because I don’t work, but because it is two days before payday reaches, and there is no money left for extras. I sat down to the top-ramen I prepared. I saw the ants floating on top, but this time I did not toss the meal. I let the ants float to the top and skimmed them off til they were all gone, then I ate. Last week I threw the ramen away, but this week I had no choice as I was hungry and there was nothing else to eat.”
We must ask again.
Just how much of this are we going to take?
Act 6905
Act 6905 Roll Call
@6.56 pm:
Different ‘wars’,different ‘bunkers’ !
And BTW,’the clock is ticking’.
Herb, your 7:33 comment is straight-up sexist. Why not chose a candidate that demonstrates s-h-e has has substance?
lol the herb/crab connection sounds like a meeting of the dim and the dull. all this german reminds me of how most of my family was murdered by the germans. but you know whats even worse than that history, the new history that the herbs of the world try to create, all herb sees is a what ever the rnc new wind blows in first mitt will save us then bachman, then perry, now newt, but in the end the auditions for republicancana date arnt going so well, what th entire country has leaned is that republicans hate people with no insurance and belive that those people should die, they hate our troopsif they happend to be gay despite the fact that they served with honor in war,they hate unions, tax cuts for the rich and they are for torturehaving decided that water boarding is the way to encourage anyone to tell them what they want to hear.
so herb i hope you have a good time in tampa, i hope you like it so well you stay there after all being invited because yu represent the 12 republican on st croix is kind of a pat on your head by a despeate republican party.
sosay the right things and get you treat,sit when they say sit, and beg for any benifits you have paid for your whole life.
hahahahahaha know why obama wins? because he only faces fools like this
The beauty of our Republican Democracy is easily displayed by the above rights with regard to freedom of speech. Our fore-fathers and fore-bearers insured that we would have the life, liberty and choice to accomplish such talk.
By the way Rain & Herb, you both spew rubbish alike, but don;t worry I love all of my brothers and sisters…Yes; that’s how the have’s have it over the have nots- while you guys fight each other, they win; you people need to re-examine your obvious social shortfalls and see the forest through the trees- we divide, they conquer- smarten up…