Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Fraser Valley Regional Library.
Jul 12, 2012gloryb rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Lam has written a very readable summarized account of Tommy Douglas's political life. Lam emphasizes how events that Douglas witnessed as an adolescent and how his strong Christian beliefs in helping others in need influenced his political beliefs. Lam also shows how Douglas's "radical" ideas gradually found their way into the political platform of Canada's major political parties. When I read about Douglas's political ideas, I wondered why there was so much fuss/fear associated with them in the 60's and 70's. However, Saskatchewan farmers at that time saw how these policies would benefit them and supported Douglas for 20 years. Lam shows how carefully Douglas implemented his policies. For example, the chapter on health care explains how Douglas first hired medical advisers who assessed the feasibility of implementing universal health care in Saskatchewan. Lam makes Douglas's political policies easy to understand in this short book. His bibliography points to longer works for those needing more detail. Lam's book emphasizes that Douglas worked both in and out of politics to improve the life of the impoverished working person. If he were alive today, I wonder what terrific ideas Douglas would be espousing and what our reaction would be.