Gerry Caplan writes that the Liberals and the New Democrats are going to have to do what is unthinkable -- work together. It's possible that either party might win a majority. But, if that doesn't happen:
Some kind of long-term rapprochement between the NDP and Liberals must be pursued. Don’t think, after a lifetime of deep attachment to the NDP, it doesn’t kill me to write these words. But anything else is a recipe for continued Conservative rule, a fate that Canadian progressives must not inflict on our country in the name of party loyalty. If we take seriously the assertion that the Conservatives have already undermined the values that we and most Canadians hold dear, and that another term will entrench their work and make it irreversible, we have no choice but to place Canada before party.
At the moment, Caplan acknowledges that either party will not even consider his proposal:
I understand fully that this proposal has no chance of buy-in from either party before election day 2015. Indeed, both Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau have explicitly repudiated the idea of working together, and were I in their shoes right now I’d do the same. Both need to insist that it alone can defeat the Harperites and that all anti-Conservatives must unite behind one party. If this strategic voting strategy works (most likely for the Liberals), future co-operation is off the table. But if it doesn’t, members of both Opposition parties will have no ethical or political choice but to seek some form of collaboration. The alternative – leaving the country by default to the Conservative Party – is simply unthinkable.
Harper's recent switch from the economy to security -- and what he is willing to do in the name of national security -- underscores just how serious the situation is. And, because he is committed to incrementalism, a lot of Canadians haven't acknowledged what the prime minister has done to the country.
But Harper knows what's he's about -- just as Adolph Hitler knew what he was about. And surely Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Mulcair know what he's about. For that reason, each man must, in the end, choose country over party.
22 comments:
I would pain me to like up with the libs also but needs must.
Sometimes, Anon, one has to make sacrifices.
Indeed Owen, there is no more important issue with this election than the NDP and Liberals uniting to rid the country of harper and his chosen ones. If they don't soon get at it, we can look forward to another 4 years, then another 4 after that.
We're not talking small potatoes here, waterboy. Things are getting deadly serious.
"...choose country over party..."?
Its all about egotism with Mulcair and Trudeau so they will self flagellate and bonk each other over the head while the real criminal Harper gets a free pass to the next PM's position.
Those two are dumb and dumber and pave the way for another round of Con dictatorship. When are we going to get real leadership in this country?
At the moment, Mogs, Trudeau and Mulcair are the only alternatives. Let's hope they do what must be done.
red minus orange = blue
in the event of a blue majority again
i hold trudeau and mulcair as possible sober thinking men
more responsible for the continued rape and mutilation of canada than the death by a thousand cuts conservatives
this is not going to end well for people barring some sort of miracle opposition win
and even then a 4 year period of superfluous inconsequential infighting and posturing will ensue
That's entirely possible, lungta. Let's hope it doesn't happen.
I was reading recently how in BC, the Liberals and Conservatives formed a coalition in 1941, in response to the growing popularity of the CCF. BC voted for the coalition twice, in 1945 and 1949.
Owen, you keep using that word "hope." I've been hoping for a very long time and from practical experience I can tell you that it doesn't work. Hope is no solution.
Can you imagine a revised WWII in which Churchill and Roosevelt order the British and American troops to shoot at each other instead of fighting across France to go after Hitler? Trudeau and Mulcair and their flunkies need to focus. So far, they show no sign of doing so. They do not reply to emails suggesting that they have already shut Canadians out of the election.
Our political leaders will not take Canadians seriously until Canadians storm the Bastille, so to speak. The walls have to come down.
Timely quote from Mein Kampf, Owen!
I thought that Harper's performance in Richmond Hill was chilling. No wonder he is such good friends with Bibi Netanyahu. The jihadis are coming, the jihadis are coming! Rational thought, relative risk and any sense of debate about appropriate responses in a civil society seem to be completely absent from the scene. Sadly, among the truly great risks facing Canadians is THIS prime minister and his party. Surely his need to play war games must be seen for what it is. The coincidentally timed jingoisitic television ads for Canada Forces recruitment are also deplorable. I am amazed how "strong" his ratings remain - is it because he keeps repeating strong, proud, free in every piece of advertising we pay for, that citizens believe he actually cares about them? I believe that a coalition government - that term for a legitimate tool of government that Harper hates with an unexplained passion is the only way to defeat them currently. Caplan is correct - this is about Canada, NOT the hyper partisanship of political parties that will be Harpers tragic legacy.
Another thing many people are noticing? On the comment boards if you diss Harper you are banned. Their moderators completely biased. However, the moderators are all pro-Harper. Sounds somewhat akin to Goebbels and his propaganda machine.
These folks are not known for their tolerance of contrary opinions, Anon.
Harper's failure to deal with the economy is symptomatic of his general failure, Asking.
When he crowed about his economic prowess, he was taking credit for the work that others had done.
Now all he's left with is jingoistic rhetoric -- the legacy of a hollow man.
Storming the Bastille may, indeed, be what it takes, Toby. Even Roosevelt famously told a supporter that he had to push the president to do things.
Harper would have you believe that coalitions are unconstitutional, Hugh -- the sure sign of a desperate man.
So what party would Liberals like Martha Hall Findlay support if it were to appear that policies of the Liberal Party of Canada or some, as yet undefined, united progressive mutation could possibly be influenced by or blended with those of the federal NDP?
Perhaps those Liberals -- like Hall Findlay herself -- could find a new home at the University of Calgary, John.
I see Caplan finally caught up to where I've been for over a decade now. Better late than not at all, but still should have been a lot sooner!
I get the impression that a number of long time Dippers are moving in that direction, Scotian.
I sure hope so Owen. Although reading Babble it sometimes is hard to believe, but then I remind myself that the Dippers there are some of the more shall we saw zealous partisans of the party and that they would be among the last to see reality in this as it is.
Caplan isn't one of them. Scotian. And, based on that letter which a number of prominent Dippers sent Andrea Horwath during the last Ontario election, I've reached the conclusion that there are others.
Post a Comment