A thoughtful article Mark. I have a comment and a question. The authors of the other book were KEN Rasmusson and JIM Pitsula (you had the names reversed). My question is, when you interviewed him in Caronport, did Devine know who exactly who you were?
Premier Devine sent me an e-mail responding to this column. He thought I was "a little tough" on his administration but his comments were thoughtful and gracious.
Grant Devine pointed out that I neglected the accomplishments of his administration, saying "To be fair you could have mentioned all the successful privatizations,rural gas, water projects, pulp mills, a nitrogen fertilizer plant, historic treaty negotiations, interest rate protection for farmers and home owners, NAFTA success and the free enterprise attitude that pervades the province today."
I completely share his view that I should have mentioned the rural gas program when discussing the similarities between is government and that of Tommy Douglas - I've amended the article to take this into account. Some of the other items he raised as successes (such as privatizations) are , I think, worthy topics of debate - although I must concede one completely - "water projects" - specifically the Rafferty Dam. We in the NDP were absolutely convinced there was not enough water to fill the reservoir. I say, unequivically, that on this, Devine was right, we were wrong.
Interesting and I think pretty fair. I'd add a couple of caveats, however. First, even though he entered politics at the high water mark of free market Reaganomics, I am not so quick to acquit him of foolishly believing the policy nostrums he peddled would save rural Sask . Second, there were some serious crooks in his administration, and I find it hard to believe he wasn't at least willfully blind -- if not like the police captain in Casablanca who claimed he was "shocked" to discover there was gambling in Rick's place. Finally, forgive me an even more obscure comparison -- with President US Grant. As a sometime student of the Civil War, I've always been rather fond of this Grant, a great general , but awful (though well meaning) president. He presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in US history, but was so honest that he would have died a pauper if Mark Twain hadn't helped him sell his memoirs.
So interesting...sometimes another truth emerges through the long lens of time. I never remember anyone saying Devine was stupid or evil...just misguided. Do you think that he knew his ministers and MLA's were stealing and/or committing fraud?
A thoughtful article Mark. I have a comment and a question. The authors of the other book were KEN Rasmusson and JIM Pitsula (you had the names reversed). My question is, when you interviewed him in Caronport, did Devine know who exactly who you were?
Premier Devine sent me an e-mail responding to this column. He thought I was "a little tough" on his administration but his comments were thoughtful and gracious.
Grant Devine pointed out that I neglected the accomplishments of his administration, saying "To be fair you could have mentioned all the successful privatizations,rural gas, water projects, pulp mills, a nitrogen fertilizer plant, historic treaty negotiations, interest rate protection for farmers and home owners, NAFTA success and the free enterprise attitude that pervades the province today."
I completely share his view that I should have mentioned the rural gas program when discussing the similarities between is government and that of Tommy Douglas - I've amended the article to take this into account. Some of the other items he raised as successes (such as privatizations) are , I think, worthy topics of debate - although I must concede one completely - "water projects" - specifically the Rafferty Dam. We in the NDP were absolutely convinced there was not enough water to fill the reservoir. I say, unequivically, that on this, Devine was right, we were wrong.
Interesting and I think pretty fair. I'd add a couple of caveats, however. First, even though he entered politics at the high water mark of free market Reaganomics, I am not so quick to acquit him of foolishly believing the policy nostrums he peddled would save rural Sask . Second, there were some serious crooks in his administration, and I find it hard to believe he wasn't at least willfully blind -- if not like the police captain in Casablanca who claimed he was "shocked" to discover there was gambling in Rick's place. Finally, forgive me an even more obscure comparison -- with President US Grant. As a sometime student of the Civil War, I've always been rather fond of this Grant, a great general , but awful (though well meaning) president. He presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in US history, but was so honest that he would have died a pauper if Mark Twain hadn't helped him sell his memoirs.
So interesting...sometimes another truth emerges through the long lens of time. I never remember anyone saying Devine was stupid or evil...just misguided. Do you think that he knew his ministers and MLA's were stealing and/or committing fraud?