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The most offensive nationalism that I see here in Toronto is the "Loonie nationalism" which turns primarily on economic self-interest. The fall of the dollar and the markets has prompted a local right-wing populist talk-radio personality, Bill Carrol, to vent his wrath daily on what he considers the short-sightedness and empire building of Bouchard and Parizeau. He may or may not be correct on the latter, but I'd bet you one polar doubloon that if the economy wasn't quite so fragile, the rallies, etc. in anglo-Canada would be much more subdued. Meanwhile, Mel Watkins argues in a recent THIS magazine that Quebec may have found the economic conditions necessary to make a break in the new globalizing economy. Because economic growth is no longer predicated on the strength of domestic markets, a lean and mean small kid on the block like Quebec could peddle its wares wherever it so wished. (I don't think he meant to say Que would be better off, just that the economic conditions to make a break might finally be there). If Que could get out of confederation with 20% or less of the national debt, the economic arguments for separation would be even more compelling. In the context of his discussion, Bill Carrol raised one issue that I have not yet heard in public discourse. He spoke of a declining standard of living in Canada, not in terms of "what if" but "how much?" With all the talk of cuts, etc. our downwardly mobile nation has not yet faced up to where all these cuts lead. Food lines, Moscow style? Ironically, "cuts" are still cast in a positive light. They are what the politicians are "doing" (as opposed to "not doing"). 'Jobshedding' in the name of future economic health is like amputation; the body may live on, but it will NEVER be the same. I'm sorry to see Quebec vote to separate, if that comes to pass. I want Que to stay for historical, social and cultural reasons. At the same time, this whole 'neverendum' debate is drawing our energy and attention away from far graver (albeit not unrelated) issues. The focus has got to be on social justice, on some vestige of economic sovereignty (however our nation(s) come(s) to be defined) and on international efforts to control the virus of the new money "markets." English profs: Were Canada a cat, you could lecture on 'le chat qu'expire'. Un oeuf is enough! . . . Michael Hoechsmann, OISE