DClucie;part of any good manager's job is to stamp out rumours at source, especially if they are false, but also if they happen to be correct and could alert the paying public to any unpleasant side effects of policy decisions.
Generational differences between policy makers and those affected often result in unreasoned negativity on the public side and a hardening of resolve on the executive side. Neither contribute to rational debate or good policy formation.
All of us on the receiving side of policy can only hope that well reasoned judgment is being exercised rather than some MBA school 'theory of the month', or worse still cronyism.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)