Ralph could have been a Superstar: Tales of the Klein Era
is not the usual bland political treatise but a tough analysis of the work of the Ralph Klein Government in Alberta from 1992 through 2005.

The book argues that the Klein Government had everything - the political power, a popular leader, a fragmented opposition, and loads of money - to be real leaders in reforming Alberta's political, economic, social and cultural institutions. They could have diversified the provincial economy to lessen its reliance on natural resources. They could have brought serious reforms to the money-draining health system. They could have been political and economic leaders in the country. Yet their failures far exceeded their successes.

Twelve essays in Ralph could have been a Superstar: Tales of the Klein Era include:

• Ralph Klein's rise to power,
• his government's well-planned and well-executed manipulation of the mainstream media,
• the fear it instilled in people who dealt with government,
• its contradictions on issues involving children,
• its repeated failures to reform health care,
• the plight of the Liberal party,
  
• the story of Jim Dinning's rise and failure,
  
• an assessment of scandals and scandalous political behaviour throughout 34 years of Conservative Government, and
  
• an open letter to Premier Ed Stelmach, defining serious political challenges that face his government and the province.

It is astonishing that with so much political power, Ralph Klein achieved so little when he could have done so much. He could have been a real superstar in Canadian politics