Why vote for me as an independent? How can I change things for the better?

Hi there,

everyone is asking me how can I really make a difference as an independent?
How will I be able to cope without the support of a party behind me?
Wont the major parties ignore us if we vote in an independent? Isn't this asking for trouble?
Do I lean labour, liberal, green, crazy or what? I can't really be independent....can I? Who do I really represent?

What does voting 1 Ivan McKay actually mean?

First up, let me say this : I am an independent.
I am not, nor have ever been, a member of any political party.

I would say that my views on many issues that affect the community I live in are balanced, rational, considered and firm. However, I am willing to be informed and can change these views when presented with compelling evidence. Who wouldn't? I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I'm not so arrogant to think I know better than experts in their field and people with greater experience than me.

So where do my views come from? Was I born with a silver spoon in my mouth or am I some crazy passionate person hellbent on a single issue platform? Neither of these. Some of my opinions are more grounded in social and community needs, others are more focussed on the personal freedom of choice, whilst some are more concerned with being able to pass on a good future for my children and their children. But they all come from my own experiences and my own aspirations for my future and our next generation.

And you can see what these views are in my blog - I am am not ashamed to publish them, and I wont cloak them in polly speak and spin.

I also believe that none of these views are effectively represented by any one party philosophy.

And I also firmly believe that no single party can effectively represent everyone in the Bega electorate like an independent could.

And most importantly I reckon I could do a kick arse job, too!

So you will know where you stand with me if your vote 1 Ivan McKay.

Vote 1 for Ivan McKay and not only be be represented, but be represented honestly.

So back to the questions - if elected, how would I cope without a party behind me?
Well, the political system does allow MPs to engage assistants to help them work in their electorate. These people are not funded from a political parties own resources, but your taxes.
But most importantly, I would have the community to assist me.

Unlike every other candidate that is a representative of a political party in the electorate of Bega, I don't have the arrogance to think I know whats best for you. And I am willing to engage with and listen to the community  to hear your needs, and represent you first, not my party. And to ask the community to help me do this.

I wont filter your views and only represent and act on those that align with my political party, because I am an independent and don't have to toe any political party line. I am free to represent anyone and everyone in the Bega electorate. Unlike the party representatives.

Now, the big question - aren't we asking for trouble by not voting for a party representative?
Don't the party machines love this feeling! Of course they want you to feel this way.
They want you to feel scared, and powerless, and beholden to them for 'fixing the problems'...

They don't want you to remember that they probably created the probems they are 'fixing'.
They don't want you to remember that their budget is our money.
They certainly don't want you to think that you actually should have some sort of input into the whole political system beyond a single day of voting every 4 years.

And the last thing they want is for the community to be firm with them and stand up for what they want.
They certainly don't want to have to negotiate with actual people, rather than engage in back room deals with powerful lobby groups representing who really knows...

But aren't we better off with a party representative?
Ask yourself this - what has Andrew Constance done for this electorate? No doubt he has a large and long list of achievements, he has been our elected representative for 8 long, lean years. There is no denying that he has worked hard. But as an opposition member, what influence did he really have in these outcomes? Absolutely none, of course, because they were all as a result of the labour government. Of course, he will tell you he did, but the reality is whatever was spent in this electorate was because of the NSW abour government, not because of the NSW liberal party policy or Mr Constance's efforts.

Ask yourself, do you  want another 4 years of this? I don't !

I want some attention and action in this electorate. I am sick of being taken for granted. And even if the liberals do get in, and Mr Constance is elected as our representative for Bega for another 4 long years, what can he achieve then? Only what his liberal party will let him do, and even then only at most what they have promised for our region...Which is almost nothing! Just a lot of promises for some planning money and more 'hard work'... And Mr Constance can only deliver these pitiful few things for us if , and only if, the liberal party do gain government..... Whether Mr Constance is elected or not.

So, why not vote 1 Ivan McKay and send a message to the liberals and the other major parties that we need more than vague promises of working harder and next to nothing funding for more "planning" but no actual spending.

And what if labour gets in? what have they promised for our electorate? Do we want another 4 years with a liberal representative being able to do nothing under a labour government, or a labour representative under a liberal government? Or even an actual party rep working for their party which is in government  - but which has promised us nothing at all?

I don't!

Wouldn't you prefer an independent who can act on your behalf and be able to form coalitions with other members of parliament to get things done in this electorate?

Vote 1 Ivan McKay this election and make a real change for our community.

kind regards
Ivan McKay

Independent Candidate for Bega NSW 2011

Giving our community a real choice this election

No secrets, no spin, no party politics - just genuine representation

Make a difference this election, vote for a genuine, independent and local voice!

Vote 1 Ivan McKay, Independent. 

Pass this message on and Vote1 Ivan McKay for real representation.

Tell your friends, there is a genuine choice for change this election!

Visit my blog to find out more:  vote1IvanMcKay.blogspot.com

Fixing the Princes Highway - lifeline of the lower south coast of NSW

We all know that the Princes Highway is the lifeblood of the south coast of NSW. Residents, tourists and commercial traffic are on it every day, in increasing numbers, creating wealth, opportunities and enhancing all of our lives. 

We also know it can be deadly, with several well known blackspots. I myself have witnessed several accidents on this highway, the most recent today (Saturday 12 March) at Dr Georges mountain, coming home form the Bermagui Seaside Fair, along with dozens of other vehicles on the road at the time. I don't think anyone was seriously hurt, and we asked if we could help but the people unfortunately involved were under good care and we moved on.

So why do our local and state governments continue to let the highway decline in maintenance and safety?

It just doesn't need need fixing,  it needs to be totally revamped in some places and made future proof.

Don't we deserve this? Of course we do. The accident I saw today may not have happened if the road wasn't so narrow and dangerous. So why isn't this maintenance and improvement  happening? 

Because this electorate is taken for granted. They expect you to vote liberal and they believe that they don't have to do anything to get your support. They expect you to feel scared about change and that you might feel that it is  "better the devil you know". 

Don't we deserve more than this condescending attitude? 

Send a message this election - vote 1 Ivan McKay and your preferred party 2.

Lets not pussy foot around - the parties have made some promises, as usual. Vague  promises to 'seriously look at' or 'a promise to consider this if the budget allows it'...but they control the budget don't they? 

And they have made no promises about the roads in our electorate. None. Do they think that we are all so easily confused and misdirected, that maybe we wont even notice? 

And let's be serious about this, lives are at stake - we don't need another temporary band aid solution or some slap-dash topping up a few pot holes or putting up another yellow go slow sign. 

We need a long term road infrastructure plan that takes into account our  traffic usage now and what we can expect for the future.  I know that many incumbent opposition liberal members have been unable to convince labour to fix this road from Wollongong down. They are blaming labour, the existing government, for the condition of our highway, and rightly so. But what will the liberals do about it if they win government? Nothing concrete so far....

But if I am elected and the NSW parliament is hung or in a delicate coalition then you can bet your bottom dollar that this issue will be on the table for funding in this electorate. Would a party representative be able to force change for this electorate? I don't think so. I don't think they would even consider it as an option, as it isn't in the parties interests.

This scenario isn't that far fetched, and it is something the major parties don't want you to think about - the last thing that they want you to think is that you have a real choice in this election! 

Remember, we get the government we deserve - we voted for them! But we can send a message that we are not happy by voting for an independent, not a party. 

At this election, Vote 1 Ivan McKay and your preferred party at number 2.

cheers

Ivan McKay

Independent Candidate for Bega NSW 2011

Giving our community a real choice this election

No secrets, no spin, no party politics - just genuine representation

Make a difference this election, vote for a genuine, independent and local voice!

Vote 1 Ivan McKay, Independent. 

Pass this message on and Vote1 Ivan McKay for real representation.

Tell your friends, there is a genuine choice for change this election!

What is my commitment to lowering the cost of living (especially electricity) in the Bega electorate?

I am an independent candidate in this election, and am not affiliated with any party. 

Therefore a vote for me is a vote for real change, because I represent the only opportunity anyone in this electorate has to make our votes count, rather than trying to decide between the same old parties making the same old mistakes. 

I live in this electorate, and have done it tough at times. Most of us have at one time or another. I can’t speak for the other candidates, but I know what it is like to get a helping hand when in need, and for the short term this is something that I would work hard for the people of this electorate to be able to access as well - nobody seems to really care for the forgotten majority, only those people living in the 'marginal seats' where a party might lose their majority in government. Of course any short term solution should be means tested, to make sure it goes the furthest with those that need it the most.

But in the long run, we need sustainable answers for our future, not handouts. 

Why wait for someone else to tell us what to do, when we can take the initiative ourselves. For example, why can’t we produce our own energy and sell the surplus? Why be reliant on someone else, living somewhere else, to decide what we as a community can and can’t do to make our lives better? 

Vote 1 for Ivan McKay this election, send a clear message and don't let your vote be taken for granted!

Who is really representing us?

Wouldn't it be nice if the people we voted in to represent us in government actually represented us? Our needs, our community, our future?

Sadly, we are usually only given a choice of the major parties at election time, and it rapidly becomes a race to the bottom of trying to decide who we want least in power, rather than who we think might actually do a good job. Do they represent us or their party hierarchy?

So I am pretty disillusioned with all the major parties, and have never been comfortable with the far out variety either. But what could I do? What choice did I have for this election? Who would I vote for only because the others were just that much worse? no real choice...unless I stood as an independent myself.

Which is what I have done for the Bega electorate in the 2011 NSW State elections.

I don't have the party machine behind me, their money or their scripted answers.

I just have myself, my considered opinions, a balanced view and my unwavering belief that as a community we really do have the skills and experience and wisdom to manage ourselves.

We don't need to settle for second best and be told what to do by an invisible party machine in Sydney.

Vote 1 Ivan McKay this election and make your voice heard.

Send a clear message that our votes can't be taken for granted, that the needs of our communities that make up the Bega electorate can't be ignored any more.

Vote 1 Ivan McKay (and then your preferred party).