Do you dislike all Americans because of their President?

A very similar post was up for a short time yesterday before being removed for reasons only known to the poster. However, the deletion meant that some very positive comments disappeared along with an interesting sub-thread with views about why Trump was considered the lesser of two evils to some voters. I am giving a chance to those who responded to re-post or for new contributions.

Here's my answer:

No. I know of many fine Americans who have morals and integrity and who are suffering a great deal of angst an the moment as they see what's happening.

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ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 51-55, M

No, I don't dislike all Americans but a democratically elected government has to be answered for by the electorate

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP Don't you think that 'the electorate' is such an amorphous concept that holding a whole nation responsible for what perhaps most of them didn't want is a bit harsh? Having said that, I know the German and Japanses people were held responsible for everything that happened in WW2 even though some tried to resist and suffered for it. (No I'm not saying Trump is a Nazi).

ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 51-55, M

@FreddieUK no I don't. I can give individuals the benefit of the doubt (when there is some) but I don't see a lot of Americans saying their whole electoral system is fraught and should be thrown out. Therefore the options for excusing the entire nation for the acts of its government are few

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP I haven't seen that suggestion too often on SW, but I have heard Americans discuss it seriously in other places. As it happens, this time round the popular vote and the Electoral College vote coincided.

ImperialAerosolKidFromEP · 51-55, M

@FreddieUK a lot of Americans think their electoral system could be improved and I'm with them on that. But if my country had that system, I'd still say it was a democracy and so when it came down to acts by my government, I would welcome the praise we received for the positive and begrudgingly accept the brickbats for the bad.
To use a more concrete example: if my government levied retaliatory tariffs, would the collateral damage to undeserving Americans make it the wrong thing to do?

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP It's a question in all countries. It seems in this case though, that a lot of the people who voted for this government are going to be the ones to suffer. Some might say they deserve it, but others might say they were so deceived they couldn't see what was coming.