Breakdown:

1. The Desire for Innocence
   The argument opens by discussing the human tendency to seek innocence, often at the expense of others. People like to feel blameless for their current situations, even if their circumstances have been shaped by structural factors or societal conditions that are outside their control. The desire to maintain an image of innocence allows individuals to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths about the systems that perpetuate inequality and suffering.
2. Blaming External Factors for Personal Struggles
   The piece highlights how some people externalize their struggles by blaming certain groups or individuals based on superficial characteristics like race, nationality, or culture. This view is presented as a way to absolve oneself of responsibility for the larger, more complex issues that contribute to personal misfortune, shifting blame onto others instead of acknowledging systemic injustices.
3. Trump as a Conduit for Fascism
   The piece then introduces Donald Trump as an example of a populist leader who capitalizes on people’s desire for scapegoats. Trump is characterized as a figure who offers people an easy narrative: they are not struggling because of their actions or choices, but because of “the other” — those who are different from them. This idea, according to the text, serves to perpetuate division and distract from the deeper, structural causes of inequality.
4. The Dangers of Fascist Ideology
   Trump is described as a “classic fascist” who uses this scapegoating to consolidate power. His rhetoric provides a convenient excuse for personal or collective failures, reinforcing a false narrative of victimhood while undermining any meaningful accountability. This, the argument suggests, allows individuals to avoid confronting the systemic issues that contribute to their struggles, thus perpetuating cycles of division and oppression.
5. Avoiding Accountability at the Cost of Others
   Finally, the text critiques the moral cost of maintaining innocence at the expense of others’ lives. By refusing to acknowledge the interconnectedness of our global struggles and deflecting responsibility, people allow harmful ideologies to flourish, even if it means that others suffer in the process. This, the piece argues, paints a grim picture of the human condition and the dangers of political ideologies that prioritize individual innocence over collective responsibility.