Tommy Douglas vs Grant Devine
October 18, 2007 | 12:33 PM
Okay, this is the only and last time I am going to be forced into a debate that is KILLING this province.
What happened years ago with Grant Devine was a pisser, but pleeeease people, how long do we have to harp on the past. I will not mention Tommy Douglas because it is well documented that former Liberal Premier William John Patterson first introduced government social policy which considered those in ill health. Why do we like to foam at the mouth about things that do not apply?
More relative today, I will make one last argument to get over our simple minded past.
Here goes.
Not only did the NDP inherit debt from Grant Devine, the NDP also inherited back their own legacy of a province sleeping at the wheel. Between Blakeney and Romanow, the Tories were in power only long enough to run it deeper in the ground. Our economy, and the world economy, sucked at the time and let's face it, the Tories possessed little in the form of "know-how", focused-governing skills, or common intellect. That party was full of cowboys and characters, the likes of Ralph Katzman, Eric Berntson and my favorite Saskatchewan criminal, Colin Thatcher.
I respect the difficulty suffered pulling Saskatchewan out of debt. Who can forget when Roy Romanow and Janice MacKinnon like to remind us all the time how great they are, but to lack any complementary substance and or creativity, proves the NDP are unilateral in their thinking and have no depth.
Since Devine, nothing has really happened. As I recall, Romanow spent a lot of time flying to Ottawa, begging Chretien for money and coming home with a check in one hand but enough criticism of the Liberals in the other. The NDP Party was the #1 priority for Romanow. Well, besides the fact that Roy Romanow was the #1 priority for Roy Romanow. Really, who asks for 25 million dollars to write a book about health care when 25 million could actually be spent on health care? Ironic yet, the number one recommendation in his report was to spend more money on health care.
For the most part, the NDP built a bureaucracy, ensuring NDP largesse and votes, because they had little else to offer. Nothing happened in this province that allowed all of us to benefit. Universality only worked for those involved in the NDP party. Look at who heads our Crown Corporations now and I don't have to go any farther to prove this point. As a Liberal, I saw it first hand and it is a major reason why many left and now are worth millions elsewhere. It is another direct reason why we have a shortage of labour, skills and too many aboriginal kids in jail or in the sex trade. Only a lazy person criticizes success and has a hard time getting their hands dirty. Only the NDP have turned away from our issues regarding our First Nation's children and decry "it's a Federal responsibility."
The NDP have done nothing to help build an economy nor have they succeeded in creating social programs that are equitable, productive and results based. Billions are spent and how proud can we say we are about what goes on in our core neighbourhoods? Who really cares about what goes on in our core neighbourhoods?
Fortunately, time does go by and in 2004, the real North American economy started moving in on us, most notably when our cousins to the West started drilling oil near Kindersley. It wasn't until he was forced to, that Eric Cline introduced lowering royalty taxes and then I believe a year later, corporate taxes. This allowed "capitalist" companies to set up and extract our Texas tea. We are all benefiting from this, including Darcy Bear and the success he has created with Dakota Dunes. Disposable income is a good thing to waste at a Casino. We still have some of the most restrictive labour laws which, ironically have hurt the little guy but at the same time, did nothing to prevent Wal Mart from coming to town. Saskatoon has four Wal Marts? in a matter how many years?
So, I agree with everyone's argument, about the past, that it existed. However, I want a future. One without people who have sat in office, some for more than 20 years, and have done little but sit on their Party rumps denouncing anyone else with independent thought, skills or desires. Will the big bad Sask Party do any better? I don't know, but I am willing to give them a try and will keep them accountable.
Some argue that a change of government, and a reduction in crown corporations will not serve our remote communities. Well, I know they are not being served at present. The last time I was in La Loche the Departments of Corrections and Community Service were short staffed by no less than five people, each. Without human resources, programs are nothing but a huge waste of taxpayers dollars. Sasktel has kiboshed internet companies from breaking into our northern market and have misled everyone along the way. A month ago, CBC and Rawlco both reported the resurgence of the KKK in our rural community. I believe it is because the NDP abandoned our rural communities. I have sat at Gang Strategy meetings where senior government staff spent an hour and a half discussing how they were going to get increased funds to pay a full time government employee more money to do a job I offered to do for free...........
Enough is enough.
Comments: (16)
go back in history boys and realize without rural sask your families would have starved a hundred years ago.
don't blame grant devine
Posted November 8, 2007 03:29 AM
You must be kidding. The global economic climate is exactly where Brad Wall and co are out to lunch. Despite what Wall's proponents at rawlco and Canwest may drone incessently, the fact is they hold in their hearts a vision of the economy that has not existed in 20 years. They have read far too many Horatio Alger novels. Today's economy is simple - big fish eat small fish. Opening the gates wide open will not translate to benefit for working and poor people.
Consider this, the sask Party is going to retain young people by granting huge tax releif to university graduates. For those who can afford university - this is wonderful but chances are those who can afford university already have some sort of economic support behind them. The NDP would like to increase accessibility as opposed to rewarding those who already have access.
Posted November 7, 2007 04:14 PM
I am normally a very adament NDP supporter, but I agree that they have not done a lot for the province in the past few years. Their last ditch effort at buying votes by raising the minimum wage to an obscene amount over the next 2 years is the only thing that I can really comment on, and for businesses like the one that I work with, it is only going to hurt us. I think that they have rested on the fact that everything in Saskatchewan is going OK, but are willing to remain resting on that. I just wish that there was a political party whose campaign was focussed on the future instead of on what happened while I was still in grade school. I don't see the NDP or Sask Party doing this at all, and wish that voters could see that there are other choices in this province.
Posted October 28, 2007 04:29 PM
Kelly Patrick, how do you determine if work is "necessary", as you say "if he performs it accordingly, he shouldn't have to worry. "
How do you determine this and don't you know it's relative? What might be exceedingly important to one segment of the province might not be important to you? We live in a collective if you like it or not and everyone has different needs.
Needs are only met by the private sector if there is a profit to be made--is that how you make your decisions? Are you a politician? Why don't you run if you believe so strongly in profit principle?
Do you think farmers would have telephones if a Crown didn't step in to extend service out there where there was no profit to be made? NO. Why would they? That's why we need Crowns.
Posted October 27, 2007 02:02 PM
The NDP like to brag about balanced budgets, unfortunately for them and us, the provincial auditor says they are not balanced.
The ndp says they use generally accepted accounting practices except when it comes to the rainy day fund, or fiscal Stabilisation Fund, which has no money in it most of the time. They run a deficit in it to conceal the budget deficit.
If they have to lie to us about their record, how good is it?
Posted October 27, 2007 09:15 AM
And here we go again,..... it's Grant Devine's fault. Apparently the NDP are perfect and never make mistakes. It is high time that they take responsibility for their decisions and stop blaming Grant Devine.
I bet that if an asteroid struck earth tomorrow, it would be Grant Devine's fault.
Posted October 26, 2007 11:23 PM
To me, all it takes is appointing one friend to a few hired positions and you've set the tone for any principle. Don Ching was Roy Romanow's roomate and law partner before Roy appointed him President of Crown Investment Corp in 1995 and then President of Sasktel in 1996. Before that even still, in 1975, Ching was Chief Executive Officer of Government Finance Office, so he is a very good example of an prime NDP appointment. I don't think he is the only one, and one who has benefited greatly by his relationship to the Party.
Some guy on another blogger site, said the Sask Party will do nothing for him and he is afraid of losing his government job. He has no kids, no wife and has the audacity to complain. He has benefits, time off, EDO's, etc, etc, and he is afraid of the Saskparty. If his work is necessary and he performs it accordingly, he shouldn't have to worry.
Posted October 26, 2007 03:30 PM
The one thing Devine was able to do, other than spend money, was ensure there would be a lasting split between the urban and the rural population. He gave the rural voters schools, hospitals, and roads, but it was unsustainable and completely irresponsible. The NDP were given the tragic duty of cleaning up Devine's mess, leaving the province with closed hospitals and schools, and a thin-membrane highways chewed up through the heavy traffic they forced bear. 16 years later, and we're still paying for this mess.
Yes, the Conservatives gave the rural community what they wanted, but they ground the infrastructure down while doing so. I know you don't want to talk about Devine, but the ramifications of his decisions are still being played out.
Posted October 25, 2007 01:40 PM
You pretty much need the "dying" towns in Saskatchewan.
Otherwise, the NDP would have to cut services in the big cities and that would be just awful!!!
Premier Calvert promised to work to end the rural-urban split in Saskatchewan. He has failed miserably.
Posted October 24, 2007 05:28 AM
the whole KKK thing has been dismissed by consensus as totally overblown, sensationalistic. news for the sake of news. i guess it was a slow summer for real news.
furthermore, to blame the ndp government for the decline of rurual Sask is hypocritical. propping up dying towns, like dying businesses, is socialism, pure and simple. if you really want a free market a society, then let the free market determine the viability of these towns, not government intervention.
tough pill to swallow for the rightwingers, I know.
Posted October 22, 2007 10:12 AM
FYI, the KKK were very active in the Devine years. And making headlines much more horrid than the recent ones.
January 1991.
Devine Conservatives' second term.
Carnie Nerland, self-confessed fascist, SK leader of KKK and Aryan Nations shoots Leo Lachance, a Cree man. Nerland confesses. Served four years.
Posted October 22, 2007 01:31 AM
Kelly, where do you get you information from? I love all of these rumour stories people have found over the years of crowns full of NDP supporters and myths yet no one seems to be able to name one, or show any proof of these well-healed political operatives.
In addition to the President of SaskTel, I do not think there is any record or any current crown corporation president who has donated to, volunteered on, or been part of so much as a part of a campaign team for a candidate running for the nomination of an NDP seat.
As for SaskTel haulting the progress of internet companies from entering Sask - good its called capitalism. Just because the owners of SaskTel are the people of Sask rather a host of shareholders from all over the country does not change the fact that any company that protects its market is only doing its job. Many of the crowns exist in a free market place and no matter whom you put in charge it is the Executive Management teams' responsibility, and the Board of Directors of these companies to protect the company and make sure it grows.
Posted October 21, 2007 11:45 AM
I don't know what the dollar amount is, but as long as oil remains over $70/barrel, I'm sure we think we can afford it all!
As for what I said earlier, I should follow-up by adding the Citizen's Assembly Calvert announced Friday sounds like a good idea, as it should help people engage in the policy discussion while keeping MLA business more transparent.
Whereas parties often campaign to the middle class but then govern in the interests of someone/thing else, this might give people a more frequent, less drastic opportunity to keep them honest.
I think a wee review of legislative business might be something to add to the agenda, too. Are we going in the right direction in the best interests of all? Some might say redundant, but would that be so radical?! Methinks not too badly.
Posted October 20, 2007 12:30 PM
I can't speak for other crowns but the President an CEO of SaskTel, Robert Watson, is fro teh Hamilton area and previously worked for Shaw. He is NOT and NDP booster by any stretch.
Posted October 19, 2007 09:14 AM
A:
I totally concur! Unless of course you are being facetious. But that would be better than the ideological lies we are fed. What is the total dollar value of promises made to this point in this campaign - one week in? It is almost farcical. No, let me correct myself. It is a complete farce.
Posted October 18, 2007 09:15 PM
I've got it!
If we as a society are right-tired of swinging back and forth between ineffective, self-serving governments, always holding out hope like some aging spinster that "Mr. or Ms. Right" is just around the corner, then maybe we need a new system of democracy (or some new choices)!
Why don't we, as a public, ban political parties and candidates, choose some seasoned managers to oversee the public service, and, as a public, decide policy in the utilitarian best interest via referendum, rather than by continuing to put our naive faith in a bunch of politicians who invariably always let us down?
Reading this post made me realize just how badly our system sucks, and this is my solution to end it! Ta-da!
The greatest happiness for the greatest number will be this system's *only* outcome. Rawknroll!
Posted October 18, 2007 03:42 PM