The Left's Philosophers' Stone

In President Obama's speech last week from the Oval Office he called for us to take action on changing our energy strategy. It was typical left wing rhetoric and calls to mind all the demands for "clean" energy, "green" energy and "green" jobs. But do these really exist?

The left's obsession with these reminds me of obsession of "science" on the age old Philosophers' stone. The philosophers' stone (Latin: lapis philosophorum) is a legendary alchemical substance, supposedly capable of turning base metals, especially lead, into gold (chrysopoeia); it was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For a long time, it was the most sought-after goal in Western alchemy, meditated upon by alchemists like Sir Isaac Newton, Nicolas Flamel, and Frater Albertus. The Stone was the central symbol of the mystical terminology of alchemy, symbolizing perfection, enlightenment, heavenly bliss, theophany and of the Christ. The discovery of the philosopher's stone was known as the Great Work.

Today's philosophers' stone are windmills, solar panels, ethanol, and electric cars. And these have proved as elusive as turning base minerals into gold was for the ancients. We hear leftist speak of these items as an elixir of economic life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly achieving a carbon free world. "Green" energy is the central symbol of perfection, enlightenment, and bliss for the world. And when it is pointed out that no where have these actually worked without massive government subsidies, we are told that if we can go to the moon, we certainly can do this. No mention is ever made that since we went to the moon we've not found a cure for cancer, a way to stop hurricanes, or even cured the common cold.


A Broken Promise by the Democrats?

On his first day in office, President Obama made the following promise:

“President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President Bush to rebuild
New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. He and Vice President Biden will take steps to
ensure that the federal government will never again allow such catastrophic
failures in emergency planning and response to occur.”

Today, on day 64 of the Gulf Oil spill, this promise makes Obama and the Democrats look ridiculous.

Does Obama Want to be President?

This is a question Roger Simon asks here:

http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2010/06/21/does-barack-obama-want-to-be-president/

I think I agree with him. It appears Obama would rather be in a titulary head of state office rather than in one in which he is actually responsible for an executive branch. He does look good at White House festivities and playing golf. He doesn't look good at cabinent meetings and telling people he can't suck up the oil with a straw. Saturday Night Live did one skit during the primary season where Obama was portrayed as getting that 3 AM call and whinning, "This is hard." I think SNL got it right.