i leave the country for five days and democracy breaks out

Wow! Is this really happening? Did I actually see the words "negotiations for a coalition government" in a news story??

I have to laugh at how out of the news loop I've been. We were very busy with family and friends, and only seeing stories the New York Times considers front-page. You can be sure Harper's tottering Government wasn't one of them! We had internet access at both my mom's and my brother's houses, but when I'm having a great time with people I see only once a year, I figure the news can wait a few days. After all, it's probably the same old thing.

Yesterday, after driving for ten hours on very little sleep, I had no intentions of spending any time online. But imagine my surprise when I was blind-copied on emails to both the NDP and the Liberals about their negotiations for a coalition government! I ran downstairs to shout the news to Allan: the Harper Government is teetering on the brink, had to execute an about-face to survive, and is only guaranteed for another week. Be still my beating heart!

One hilarious - but scary - angle has Canadian wingnuts all over the internet using words like "palace coup" and "treason," apparently taking their marching orders from their fearless leader, now out of his sweater vest.

Can it be these Canadians don't understand the basics of Parliamentary democracy? Apparently so. In comments at several news stories, I've seen numerous claims that Stephen Harper was elected Prime Minister, and neither Stéphane Dion nor anyone else has the right to "overturn that election".

Excuse me? Are you confusing one recent election with another? Do these people think they actually voted on a ballot showing Stephen Harper running for Prime Minister?

Earth to Conservatives: you voted for your party of choice by voting for a Member of Parliament. Whatever MP was elected in your riding is still sitting in Parliament. Your vote has not been changed; your MP has not been recalled; no election has been overturned.

The party that won the most seats was charged with the task of forming the Government. If that party can't maintain the Government, they lose that opportunity and become the Opposition.

Do you seriously not understand that? Or do you think continually repeating utter bullshit magically transforms it into truth?

* * * *

I've had a half-written post sitting in drafts for several weeks, expressing my frustrations - not unknown to you, I'm sure - at the political climate in Canada. We see the centre-right-very-right firmly holding together despite significant differences, and the centre-left-leaning-actual-left fracturing ever further.

I am utterly and completely opposed to any suggestion that this situation is the fault of the New Democrats, and that the NDP should simply disappear and leave the field to the Liberals.

But the prospect of successive Governments run by a party whose views represent a minority of Canadians is teeth-grittingly, fist-clenchingly maddening.

I've been obsessing on the idea of a coalition, but when I mention it to most Canadian-born Canadians I know, they give me one of several one-word answers. Never. Impossible. Unthinkable.

In this half-written post - now irrelevant?? - I quote my favourite political blogger, Idealistic Pragmatist. Here's a bit from that draft.

[In addition to being a keen political observer, she's lived under at least two other systems, so she brings a broader perspective to the table. When liberal Canadians talk about "uniting the left," I am ready with the broken two-almost-one-party system to the south as an example of what would likely happen. Idealistic Pragmatist has that, too, but she also has experienced a system that is more democratic and more representative than either the US or Canada.

Running to form government on their own may be the best the NDP can do within the current political culture, but Dymaxion World's axiom applies here as well as it ever has: Basic politics in a democracy: If you want to change the behaviour, don't change the actors, change the rules. Until we have proportional representation and the political culture that would result from it, partisan politics in Canada is always going to be more about how to get a bigger and bigger piece of the pie than it is about promoting good people and good ideas. And that's always going to limit the level at which I'm willing to get involved with my party of choice, no matter how good their candidates and their ideas are.

I'm familiar with the IP's basic themes, but now, having lived in Canada through two elections, I understand them in a deeper way.

Right now, as Canada faces a united front on the right, a weakened centrist party that abdicated its responsibility as the Opposition, and a party on the left trying to broaden its appeal to a wider sector of voters, we need these ideas more than ever.]

Now I can hardly believe that what I've been wishing for may come to fruition. Canada, you beautiful country you, make us all proud.

Meanwhile, while we await the outcome of these negotiations, we can do more than hold our collective progressive breath. Please go to the Progressive Coalition website and tell your MPs and the party leaders how you feel.

In 2008 the majority of Canadians voted for a prosperous, fair, and green Canada. Over 60% of voters cast their ballots for parties with progressive platforms. With 37% of the vote the Conservatives will effectively hold 100% of the power.

The Conservatives received 170,000 fewer votes than the last election, yet they won more seats. The Greens, who received 940,747 votes, are not represented at all.

Politics as usual is not working: the progressive majority in Canada is now ruled by a right-wing minority. If Canadians do not act we are going to watch Canada become more unequal, more irresponsible, and more out of step with a changing world.

We can change this. The Conservatives only secured 143 seats in Parliament while the NDP, Liberals, and Bloc Quebecois secured a combined 165 seats. These seats give the NDP, Liberals, and Bloc Quebecois the ability to form a coalition government. You don't have to give up your vision of Canada. The parties can work together to find common ground.

Canadians for a Progressive Coalition are asking the NDP, Liberals, and Bloc Quebecois to form a coalition government that includes counsel from the Greens.

First, sign a petition calling for a coalition government.

Then contact your MP, the NDP, the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party. Tell them all that that you strongly support this idea.

The people at Progressive Coalition have many ideas of how you can get involved. Go here to find out more.