Michelle Goldberg: Democracy Grief is Real

12.15.19

To the editor:

As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I agree with Michelle Goldberg that many people are experiencing a kind of grief and despair about our country unlike other times in their lives (Democracy grief is real, 12.15.19).  This includes one elderly patient, born in the 1920's, who has seen a lot of life! 

Soon after President Trump was elected many people focused their anxiety, anger, depression and fear onto him: Donald Trump was THE problem. But over time, many people (myself included) have been confronted with a more  ominous reality.  Donald Trump has destroyed the Republican Party. Many, if not most, Republicans think like him  and act like him: Trump is  victim of a 'witch hunt,' Ukraine interfered with our elections, the Mueller report was a waste of taxpayers money ... on and on.  It is as if an isolated cancer, with the help of Vladimir Putin, infected our democracy and it has now metastasized destroying our two party system and life in a fact based world. Many patients look to the 2020 election cycle in an effort to remain hopeful while terrified by the prospects of  Democratic loss.

Respectfully

Larry S. Sandberg