C for who?

| 03/12/2012

Since the launch of the coalition for Cayman group, which calls itself C4C, there has been some interesting public reaction to the idea of the third group. On the one hand, the objective and purpose stated by the the group sounds reasonable, serving as a public awareness and advocacy group to "help" us better assess political candidates.

The problem with the launch is that we were also told by the opening MC on the night something to effect of "these people here behind me plan to address the issues in this country". It became very clear into the first plate of jerk chicken that the C4C was either an overly ambitious PAC/think tank or a very poorly disguised bunch of aspiring politicians.

I will leave it with you to decide which description suits best. But I would like to offer an opinion: the first and most important issue with the C4C is not whether the individuals are reasonable candidates, because 1 or 2 of those affiliated with the group are potentially qualified to run for office (subject to hearing and assessing them during the campaign of course).

The issue is one of trust, or rather lack of it. If, for example, the C4C is truly for country, it should take this stand irrespective of whether certain individuals are a member of or affiliated with a party. For example, wouldn't we see someone like a Moses Kirkconnell on stage with them? Or is it the case that "working with Moses" conflicts with the political aspirations of a member of the C4C?

Instead, what we have seen is a group that is, by definition, anti party. So is the C4C saying that a party of qualified and well intended individuals is bad for the country because of the organisational structure they have chosen? (I don't believe either party can be described this positively right now but that's besides the point.)

Before it wastes a lot of money or, more importantly, our time, the C4C should very quickly revisit the conflicting messages from its first night on the town. If being anti party and essentially trying to sneak support for a few ambitious candidates is the crux of the plan, then it should consider spending that money in other ways, for example, by creating a real think tank policy body that researches key issues and finds ways to distribute its analysis in a manner that is accessible to the wider public (and not just the elite).

A lot of people agree that the country has become more divided, that the economy has got worse and that both political parties have much to do with that. But to believe that simply switching one group for another just because the new group does not use the word 'party' in its name would be a huge mistake. That's like saying that McKeeva Bush has great respect for process and doing things in a competent manner, or that Alden Mclaughlin is a down to earth leader whose political executive rallies around him and is a man who loves to present issues and solutions in an articulate manner to the people.

The country desparately needs a change. And the C4C and similar groups have a great opportunity to help us get there. But it has had a terrible "soft launch" and it needs to tell us what it really is (and most of us would likely be happy if it just stuck to that story, whatever it is).

Finally, and importantly, it needs to very quickly tell us about its vision for the country with some hard specifics on what it feels needs to be done. We all know that the "plan" by both parties is to stuff a 50 page manifesto down our throats about two months before election day, which theywill pray we don't actually read.

If the C4C could address at least that issue then perhaps, just maybe, they could add value after all. And that would tell us what the last letter in C4C really stands for.

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  1. Peanuts says:

    So can anyone see Ten new C4C people elected. Or put it another way can you see C4C taking the three new seats and moving seven incumbents out. Failing that who will C4C form a Government with. Another slight bump in C4Cs road is Miller and McLean, any candidate with an endorsement from those two will create problems for any C4C candidate. Fun and games ahead. 

  2. Anonymous says:

    What does Kent McTaggert have to do with C4C, is he their public spokesperson? How many times has he posted here? Kent please don't bash me.

  3. Anonymous says:

    If anyone really wants yo know, the final c in c4c stands for “caring for the already rich”. Thats what we see and thats what we will get if we give votes to this group.

  4. Anon says:

    Welcome back 101. Hope you had a good vacation. Always good to read your views.

  5. Private Poll says:

    Anyone who thinks the C4C is a fraud and are only seeking power for the elite merchant class people please click "Thumbs up" now.

    • Anonymous says:

      I wouldnt call Lawyers, Accountants, Realtors, etc. "Elite Merchant Class". You need a new classification.

  6. Anonymous says:

    I don’t need a fridge just jerk chicken…thank you

  7. Anonymous says:

    C4c is a group looking to field candidates. I don’t mind that but i have no interest in supporting a bunch of people who look, act, and speak as if they are better than most of us. Talk about a mr truman days flashback. C4c is not progress .. Sorrry

    • Dandimouse says:

      They dont need to connect with me to get my support but they need to be upfront about their intentions. I think they mean well but cant support what you dont trust.

  8. Square1 says:

    my problem with C4C is that their website stilll says, "Soon Come" under the Important Issues section!  to me that says it all.  it would appear to me jus they are just a way to split the vote.  it's very hard for me right now not to feel like this is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

     

    • Anon says:

      Actually now that you mentioned it the soon come part is just like other politicians so maybe they are more downbto earth than we think! Trust me you wont see much more than soon come sign because there is little substance there.

    • Anon says:

      101 you are asking for too much. These jokers will mot show us any true solutions to anything. All they will do is split votes

  9. Anonymous says:

    Still waIting for something useful from this group. All talk and even that was not that good. Dont look like politicians to me.they should go back to the office if they cannot connect with people.

    • Kent McTaggart says:

      800 plus people were applauding at the launch because? 

      And how many times does it have to be said, they don't look like politicians because C4C is not forwarding candidates.

      • Reality says:

        Dude they were applauding because of they were eating jerk chicken and drinking fruit punch and whenever the core group with t shirts clapped everyone else felt they had to because thats how crowds behave…

        Dont get too ahead of yourself about the attendance either. A lot of people came to see what it was all about because they are hungry for change. what you need to consider is how many of those 800 walked away dissapointed.

        Try to “Listen” to the feedback and see what you hear….

      • Say Wha? says:

        What a poor first impression and poor argument (800 plus people were applauding at the launch because?) you make…

        1.  800 people were applauding the Chef at the launch – the one who cooked the food that you gave them

        2.  800 people were applauding at the launch because they're so sick and tired of Big Mac, that fried sh1t on a stick is more appealing to them

        3.  more than 1 million people followed Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Pol Pot, etc. – doesn't make it right does it?

        4.  more than 800 people support Big Mac – again, doesn't say much does it…

        And let's be a little bit more honest about not forwarding any candidates – that's exactly what you guys are doing, whether in the open or on the sly.  Lastly, spare the sarcasm if you want to attract voters – doesn't look good on you.

         

    • Anonymous says:
       
       
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  10. Anonymous says:

    the question really is – will the country be better off divided into 3, or whether 2 is enough division.

    • Kent McTaggart says:

      The country will not be better divided into 3, it will be better when it is unified into 1.

      • Anonymous says:

        Which you will do by first publicly slamming parties? Smart move.

      • Anonymous says:

        And how in the hell do you expect it to be unified into 1 when you reject anyone who is a member of a party?

  11. Agent Double 0776 says:

    How does Alden’s personality have any relevance to his ability to be Premier? Do we really want a Premier who is a good ole boy? I think that may have been our mistake in the last two elections. This is not a popularity contest we are having next May it’s selecting the next Leader of our Country. Let’s select someone that’s honest and will do whats right not the guy we have the most fun with on the weekend or who will remember to ask how your MaaMaa is..

    • Anonymous says:

      Great leadership demonstrated when he as a potential Premier thinks it is appropriate to box down Elio in the the LA that is exactly the type of behavior the country can expect in stressful situations

      • Anonymous says:

        Ellio had it coming. I give Alden kudos for it. A definite plus in my book.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Ask ur self why Alden is so vex bout CforC ?

    • hahaa says:

      ummm…he cant stand idiots?

    • Anonymous says:

      Because it’s an obvious vote splitting tactic by a group of wannabe King makers. Also because it’s a Political Party in denial.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Based on what was said at the meeting the C4C is not a party. It aims to be a public awareness and advocacy group with the intention to endorse independent minded candidates who seek to demonstrate loyalty to the people and the country not the parties and the usual rhetoric.

    Cayman cannot expect different ideas or persons involved in politics if we continue to make the same mistakes orvote for the type of persons who have failed the country and led us to this point. In cayman the parties are groups who are loyal to the individual leaders or the personalities involved, differences between between the udp and ppm are based on the leadership not based on political ideology.

    In a small country like ours most people are ex-supporters of something or someone and the C4C have both ex-UDP and ex-PPM in the group. Perhaps they are brave enough to want something different endorse or support the next wave political hopefuls and those currently elected who want to fix the problemsinstead of continuing to support two parties and two leaders that have offered no solutions but are big on rhetoric. How does the saying go “empty vessels make the most noise”

  14. Anonymous says:

    What is Ezzard & Arden to this group? Are they de facto leadership? Beware wolves in the bushes…

    • Kent McTaggart says:

      Why speculate, call Ezzard or Arden and ask them.

    • no way says:

      Ezzard and Arden want nothing to do with that band of Merry Men. Bunch of wannabe politicians that cant even speak the truth. The C4C is here to represent the same set of merchant families who got rich off poor people backs. I have heard some of their founding members cuss poor Caymanians like they were dogs. Cayman remember where these jokers spring up from. The UDP didnt need them anymore so they decided to create their own "Gowerment" – half of them are actually in business deals with the UDP Politicians. More on this will be revealed shortly, along with a couple new "Inwestigations".

       

       

      • Kent McTaggart says:

        Once again, without you being willing to put your name behind your words, I simply cannot give you any credit for your statements, as they are vague and very well could be formulated for the soul purpose of inciting distrust by smearing pseudo facts.  So unless you can place specific names with examples of actual wrong doing, I would ask kindly that you refrain from slinging virtual mud.

        • I think says:

          Adolf Hitler, Who died and made you so special dude? Are you the identity police or something, you have asked how many people on a forum that allows anonymity for their identity, you worse that friken Big Mac for real. 

          Why dont you spend some time re-reading your insulting holier than thou BS – Seriously ifyou represent C4C they got issues to sort out right now. 

           

  15. Anonymous says:

    Anything except ppm or udp at this point. They can’t do any worse.

    We’ve tried both parties – both failed! So we can’t go back to wote strait nonsense because we have seen it does not work

  16. I agree says:

    Good Observation, I must admit C4C makes me very uneasy. Some of their members have expressed a raw burning hatred for not just the PPM but for Mr Alden. I have heard one member in particular Mr Moxam say some very nasty things about Mr Mclaughlin and he has been positing stuff on his BBM as well. The C4C seems to be all about hatred and division and to start off with a "lie" is not good for them at all. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Oh please if you are going to tell a tale at least tell the full story “raw burning hatred” is not the case at all, why is it now unreasonable to hold officials accountable after years of support? I know Mr Moxam and he’s always been very clear in expressing his views on politics and the lack of leadership, accountability and poor decisions that are made on both sides of the political divide.

    • Anonymous says:

      Another ppm supporter posting to deflect from the short comings of the party and its leader. Stop deflecting and try to help the country. The ppm’s track record of waste and mismanagement says everything about the party. Focus on doing something positive instead of trying to run people down who are prepared to ask questions and demand better representation for cayman.

    • Anonymous says:

      Poor ppm blogger cannot handle that a former supporter and one of the money men demanded more quality service from Alden and the party instead of following and not asking any questions like the rest

      • Anonymous says:

        You obviously don't know anything about PPM members, especially those on the executive if you think any of them are "following and not asking any questions".

    • Anonymous says:

      Alden is that you again?

    • Anonymous says:

      Moxam talks straight and is consistent in holding the MLA’s in this country accountable to the voters in public and private. His message is the same if you listen to him. Caymanians need to expect more from leaders because they helped to create the current situation so if that is mistaken for hatred of anything it is hatred for laziness and incomptence.

      • Anonymous says:

        Johan stop interfering with your own conversation. Let us criticise you objectively. You need to decide where you stand politically and stop being coy etc.ppm, c4c, udp? Etc

    • Anonymous says:

      Geez, what did C4C and Mr. Moxam to you? Is there some reason why they can’t get together and support whomever they like without you implying they are have a raw hatred for anybody? Why has the parties lost key supporters? If the parties functioned properly served the country not the membership and had answers perhaps C4C would not exist. In the rest of the world it is called freedom of speech and freedom to choose why can’t it viewed the same here?

    • Kent McTaggart says:

      Until you are willing to post your real name Mr. "I agree" I cannot give you one ounce of respect for your post. I know Mr. Moxam and I can tell you that he is a man that believes what he says, and says what he believes. If he has said unfavorable things about the Honorable Alden Mclaughlin it is for VERY good credible reason.

      As for the C4C being "all about hatred and division…" with my personal understanding of the the C4C the only "hatred" is for the philosophy of putting party before country and that good sir (whomever you are) is not divisive

      Kind Regards

      Kent McTaggart

      • Yea says:

        Thats why you decided to call Rooster and demand that the PPM step aside so that the C4C can run and take on the UDP. But wait …..I thought you all were not running candidates? Speak the truth my friend, you failed to get my vote with that stunt, show some respect for others, the C4C is not going to come charging in and push anyone out of the way, PPM supporters are smart, they know what you are up to. Word is the C4C is being encouraged by Big Mac himself and by the lack of comment comming from the UDP I suspect there is truth to that. Go ahead taking people for fool man!

        I wonder who is drinking the Kool-Aid now …huh? 

      • Anonymous says:

        You appear very UDP like. Why do you need to know who the poster is? So you can intimidate or bully? Why the rush to blindly defend your potential candidate? Have you really stopped and asked yourself you he is no longer with the PPM? If he really raised so much money and did all the great things he claimed don’t you think they would have rewarded him with an offer to be a candidate? I suggest you look beyond what people say andwhat their actions are before you defend so blindly. PPM always put country first and with C4C it appears that this is purely a campaign clique not supported by the actions of it’s members. Real change will only come with strong leadership which puts Caymanians.

      • oh yes says:

        Kent if you spent less time insulting posters and more talking about what C$C has to offer maybe you might get somewhere. Do you have nothing better to do that sit on CNS monitoring and spreading your progaganda ? How about telling us how you are going to help me feed my family? XXXXX

        • Anonymous says:

          Oh yes you are exactly the DS kind of person that got this country in its present state, the handout feed my family group that Caymanians need to send packing.  You had better ask what you can do for this country and not what this country/politicians will do for you.  C4C will encourage honest Caymanians to run for office who will make a difference in the country thus to enrich the lives of all Caymanians.

          • This says:

            This is why I will not support the C4C ! I am unemployed and have been for quite some time, but instead of thinking about why I said "help me feed my family" you greedy self service C4C Assh$$$$ instead accuse me of wanting a hand-out. I guess us poor folk are not on your agenda then? I listened to Kenneth and Woody on Rooster today and could hear that they want to address my little unemployment issue so I will leave you all to continue beating your chests and smiling at each other, bunch of silver spoons

    • Anonymous says:

      Just my opinion as a group the PPM is a better alternative than the UDP although I intend to vote for any member of either party or group who can and will demonstrate that they have the best interest of Cayman and Caymanians first and foremost.   

      • Anonymous says:

        If u vote for any UDP candidate, it is the same as voting for McKeeva – he makes ALL the UDP decisions and you know it and we all know it and that is why we are all where we are right now – going down the proverbial drain and believe me I don’t like to say that about our beautiful Cayman but please please remember a vote for any UDP is the same as a vote to put McKeeva back in power!

      • Anonymous says:

        If u vote for any UDP candidate, it is the same as voting for McKeeva – he makes ALL the UDP decisions and you know it and we all know it and that is why we are all where we are right now – going down the proverbial drain and believe me I don’t like to say that about our beautiful Cayman but please please remember a vote for any UDP is the same as a vote to put McKeeva back in power!

    • Anonymouse Man says:

      Dred gives some interesting optics. C4C don't grab me as being very open and trransparent. Sadly they do not embrace and encourage the participation of shared thinking. Good leaders value the benefits of shared thinking and realises that shared thinkig creates greater innovation. A functioning political party provides lots of opportunities for shared thinking. I would hope that the level of hatefullness that Johann Moxam and Paul Rivers spews out about Alden will not  be the focal point of the Independents rallying for a seat in the house. I would also hope that they do not support Austin Harris as a candidate for any election anywhere.

      • Kent McTaggart says:

        I think if you are able to view C4C objectively, you will find that in fact it is exactly the opposite of what you have painted here.  C4C is absolutely about inclusion, it is about getting input from each and every person that is willing to put actual thought into their opinion, and taking that perspective along with the others that are offered and formulate solutions that will put our “Country First”. 

        • mmmm says:

          Blah blah blah blaze blah you say this like its a new concept introduced by C$C your "Country first" tag line was even plagiarized as was your brochure for the meetign. Can we say McCain?

    • Anonymous says:

      That you do not have the courage to put your name on it, tells me you know this statement is nonsense-
      the Johan Moxam I have known for years is very direct and honest as well as consistent in his call for accountability from our elected representatives.

      Hence the reason he has become a target

      M Mclaughlin

  17. Anonymous says:

    I'll vote for them because of who they aren't, rather than who they are. Any change has to be an improvement. That's how bad things have gotten.

    • Anonymous says:

      Think about that! You are voting for the unknown how does that even make sense? Unless you are a C$C member and posting foolishness.

    • Anonymous says:

      this is the problem……you have swallowed the c4c kool aid without knowing anything about them….. wait till you hear a few policy initatives……

  18. Anonymous says:

    You lack effective leadership. Considering the small population and the woeful education system,  the odds are against you.