Coalition? Why not?

Harper and his crew are trying to terrorize ordinary middle-class Canadians with the "terrible prospect" of a "coalition government" in which the Liberal party would depend on "socialists" and "separatists." Of course this coalition would lead us along the path of North Korea.

Michael Ignatieff is hurrying to say "never," as if his declining Liberal Party was a real alternative. Basically, Ignatieff is loyal to his principles, just as he was when he sabotaged the coalition-in-the-making back in 2009. The leadership of the Liberals and their shadowy decision-making circles prefer to have Harper than themselves if it would mean depending on the "socialists" and the "separatists." This is the basic foundation of the profound decline of the Liberal Party, once a centrist party inspired by Keynesian policies. But this is not my interest today.

While Harper is "dirtying" the idea of a coalition, the left in Canada seems to be mostly silent. Jack is trying to avoid the issue, just in case the idea of working with the "separatists" would see him lose any votes. The problem is not new unfortunately. The NDP has long been dominated by pollsters and other political spin doctors who think only in terms of short-term political gain.

To its credit, the left in Québec is saying the opposite, campaigning for both the Bloc and the NDP, as was stated over the week-end at the Quebec Solidaire convention.

But in Canada, unless I've missed something, nothing of that kind has emerged, even from among the social movements and trade unions. Jack can say simply, this is not popular among English Canadian voters. But is that a reasonable response?

The current situation should encourage us all to adopt a different mindset. We are really facing the prospect of a majority neoconservative government, which, if it happens, will be a disaster. We all know that. Only a "coalition" will actually block this, unless I do not understand basic politics.

Can it be a minimalist coalition where a political party agrees not to campaign where another party has a better chance of winning against the (neo)conservatives? Can it be broader than that with at least some convergent ideas on how to avoid the radical shift that Harper is proposing? The NDP in particular should come out of the closet and recognize the importance of working with the Bloc, because of its broadly progressive policies, because it can avoid a Harper government and because, at the end of the day, it represents that unalterable will of the Québécois to self-determination.

So OK Jack, let's take the jump!