Doctor Simon Elmer Trained as an art historian, he specialised in the interwar period, the rise of Fascism in Europe and the US Having left academia to escape the demands for self-censorship that plagued it, Simon now works as an independent researcher with a company he co-founded. Social Housing ArchitectsHis research skills, intellectual rigour and passion have since been utilised primarily to fight against destructive and exploitative social housing policies in the UK.
The interview begins in the area of social housing, with Simon talking about the legal, financial and political forces driving demolition and rehousing projects on London's social housing estates. David and Simon discuss the profound social and health impacts of communities being dispersed and support networks being destroyed. David gives a great example from Glasgow. Glee Peace Songa light-hearted portrayal of a situation so crowded that an entire high-rise building's worth of children fights over a single jam sandwich.
Simon Elmer's famous book on the coronavirus crisis The Road to Fascism: For a Critique of the Global Biosecurity State (Also Available as an e-book on the Architects for Social Housing websiteThe title is F.A. Hayek's 1940s masterpiece ” The Road to Slavery.
Simon outlines why he believes that the word “fascism,” often used as a thoughtless general insult, is the correct and most accurate way to describe the unfolding events of the past three years, as lockdowns, edicts and coercive policies have spread like a virus across freedom-loving Western countries including Canada, the United States, Europe, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. David and Simon explore the nature and characteristics of fascism and consider its symbols and beliefs.
Simon's analysis identifies features of willing submission, quasi-religious fervor, and fanatical obedience to orders that characterize both historical fascism and the contemporary coronavirus crisis. The discussion spans the entire political spectrum, examining the dual failure of conservative churches and the political left to resist spreading tyranny.
Simon Elmer turns to the seminal work of Hannah Arendt to identify the fundamental errors that have allowed our society to be so quickly overwhelmed by totalitarianism. Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (1963). He concludes that the crux of the problem is the willingness of the masses to submit to human laws rather than to God's; that is, they acquiesce to man-made laws rather than personally choosing good over evil, truth over falsehood, and honesty over corruption. In such submission, individuals may find momentary peace and comfort, but they also become embroiled in crimes of almost unimaginable severity.
Simon explores the nature of submission to authority, examines its psychological drivers and discusses dealing with heavy-handed policing and a state that cannot imagine it can get it wrong. David has had a similar experience, which prompted him to consider in his UK column whether we have rights.
David and Simon discuss at length the subservience of the mainline church, and an apt symbol of this submission is Vatican issues commemorative coin To celebrate the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
They also explore the alignment of the political left with the coronavirus policy agenda, with Simon noting that the left has essentially taken over coronavirus policy. Fascist Awakening Ideology as a significant part of the problem.
All in all, this fascinating discussion speaks to Simon Elmer's depth of scholarship and his willingness to tackle really difficult problems — a skill that has cost him some friends but gained him many more.
