Dealing With The Presidential Election

TRIGGER WARNING:  In which I assert that Trump Opponents are in a five stage process toward acceptance.

For John, BLUF:  Of course, they may never accept Mr Trump, even after he leaves the White House.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Several decades ago a Swiss-American psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross gave us the five stages of dying.  It is how people deal with death and dying and even lesser tragedies.  Ms Kübler-Ross left this planet at the age of 78, back in 2004, in Scottsdale, Arizona.  However, her observations of how mortals deal with loss continues and this most recent Presidential Election is another opportunity to observe how it works.

Here is the Kübler-Ross model of grieving, with its Stages of Grief (From Wikipedia):

1. Denial – The first reaction is denial. In this stage individuals believe the diagnosis is somehow mistaken, and cling to a false, preferable reality.
2. Anger – When the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue, they become frustrated, especially at proximate individuals. Certain psychological responses of a person undergoing this phase would be: "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; "Who is to blame?"; "Why would this happen?".
3. Bargaining – The third stage involves the hope that the individual can avoid a cause of grief. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. People facing less serious trauma can bargain or seek compromise.
4. Depression – "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon, so what's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"
5. Acceptance – "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it; I may as well prepare for it."

And there you have it.  It is a map showing us how Never Trump folks are proceeding following the election.

Some have even advanced to the "Bargaining" level, where they are trying to work out deals to make a Trump Inauguration go away.  We see this in the actions of those who are trying to change the votes of the Electors, come Monday.

Regards  —  Cliff