Tim Flannery, an honorary pallbearer at Jack Layton’s funeral, arrives at a conclusion similar to that arrived at by Michael Valpy and James McKee.

For people the world over, Jack Layton was a bulwark against that descent into despair: the one who through his own boundless optimism and generosity of spirit coaxed us also to be generous; to trust, and to give of ourselves for the greater good. There is no politician like Jack Layton in Australia, the U.S. or Europe. Sure, those places have left-leaning parties with great leaders. But no one I know can speak to the people of the things that matter the way Jack could. And so those who knew something of Canadian politics looked to Jack for inspiration.

Dan Gardner sees a different lesson altogether.