Fascism explained to a 9-year-old

[I talked] to the 4th grader this morning about fascists, which can be hard to explain simply.

I said fascists get mad the world isn't how they want, so they make up a story: things used to be good, but certain people ruined it, and if we just get rid of them everything will be good again.

Fascists only have one move, which is to find people to blame problems on.

They can't address any real problems because that's not part of the story. They just have to find people to blame. And anybody who doesn't play along becomes somebody to blame.

When the fascists say we just need to get rid of people, if your response is to argue about which people and how, you have already stepped into their frame to play their game of make-believe.

You need to eat their frame: nobody goes!

And if you are getting ready to say 'but some people have to go', then I regret to inform you a tiny Fascist is living in your head, and you should do something about that.

–Anthony Moser