Queen Elizabeth II presided over England at a time when Britain’s foreign policy was transitioning from imperialism to commonwealth stewardship.  The imperialism policy entailed the maintenance of military bases all around the globe, as they said, “the sun never sets on the British Empire.”  What is the difference between an empire and a commonwealth?  The word, “empire” derives from the word “commanding.”  The word “commonwealth” carries the obvious definition of “holding wealth in common.”  Semantically speaking, a commonwealth is a more egalitarian arrangement than an empire, and the former word implies that there are certain realities that, properly understood, could garner a little money for everyone. Now let us switch from Queen Elizabeth to the coming eclipse in Erie County. With a total solar eclipse approaching, we, the humans of Western New York, should all think of ourselves as about to get richer.   As the old song says, “The moon belongs to everyone; the best things in life are free.”  Strange as it might seem, the moon blocking the sunshine for three minutes, forty-five seconds in our sky presents an opportunity for all of Erie County to become wealthier.  Employing the semantics from the history of England, the coming total solar eclipse is potentially common wealth for all of us. However, we must be willing to make a little wager.   

How could all of us Earthlings in Erie County become wealthier on account of an astronomical phenomenon?  First, we must recognize the practically inevitable torrent of tourists we will receive in Erie County on that day.  Now, I am no Nostradamus, nor do I take any stock in Nostradamus.  The Eclipse Escapade is based on astroNOMY, which is science, and not astroLOGY, which is more like spirituality.  When I say it is “practically inevitable” that Western New York will receive a torrent of tourists, I am certainly not soothsaying in some supernatural way.  On the contrary, if we just look at the facts and make a few inferences, it is entirely rational to believe that Western New York will receive this torrent on eclipse day.  It is a safe bet.  

When we consider all the factors in this distinct moment, betwixt and between two eclipses, the perceived likelihood of an overwhelming influx of umbraphiles into Buffalo on April 8, 2024 approaches inevitability.  (An “umbraphile” for my new followers, is an eclipse-tourist.)  Total eclipses are an exceptional attractor for tourists; for example, the 2017 total eclipse attracted 400,000 visitors to Columbia, South Carolina.  Consider that, merely to witness a two minute, thirty-six second sky show, about 1.6 million people traveled to or within the state.  This travel generated $269 million in economic impact.  Similarly, nearly 192,000 people traveled to Wyoming to view the 2017 eclipse, bringing in an estimated $63.5 million.  Furthermore, factor in that 216 million Americans enjoyed the 2017 eclipse, some witnessing totality and others partiality, and that the memory is so fresh in so many American minds. Those who witnessed totality would have been enraptured by the ethereal rara avis that is that cosmic moment, and will want to witness the ecstatic sight again.  Of the 216 million who missed totality, many will have heard about it and will be interested in it.  In summary, the coming eclipse is of interest to many, many Americans.  Now, factor in that there are several big cities within driving distance of Buffalo, and that these cities will not get totality.   Albany, Boston, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington, D.C. all are within driving distance from us and are outside totality. A study of the eclipse map for the 2024 eclipse will show that, yes, some eclipse-chasers in these surrounding cities will have other options for places to witness the eclipse. However, maybe they are interested in Buffalo because of our other tourist attractions.  Maybe the weather forecast will be promising that day in Buffalo (and there is a greater than fifty percent chance that we will have a sky that is clear enough to see it.)  All factors considered, though of course we can’t say exactly how large the influx of umbraphiles into Buffalo will be, we can assert with a great deal of confidence that we will get a torrent of eclipse-interested tourists.  

Now, can we know, with absolute certainty, that we will get a torrent of tourists?  Of course not, but we can reasonably bet that Buffalo will have an influx of umbraphiles.  This would be a bet similar to Pascal’s Wager.  For those unfamiliar with Pascal’s wager, it is a concept from theology.  If we consider that a certain, proposed wager, and the boons to be acquired from winning are great, and, in fact, even the ACT of betting favorably will carry certain benefits, then the wager is already enticing.  But of course, we should consider what would happen if we lose the bet.  In doing so, if we find these losses would be minimal, the wager will become even more enticing. More importantly, if we find that neglecting to make the wager at all could lead to bad consequences, the bet will be all the more compelling.  Stated more simply, if we take a hypothetical wager, and winning would be good, and losing would be not-so-bad, we ought to take it. Furthermore, if in accepting the wager, whether we win or lose, we will gain a little goodness, and moreover, declining the wager entirely could be very bad; it is a no-brainer.  It is obviously best to take the bet.  

Of course, umbraphiles on pilgrimage in Buffalo will bring their bread and spend it.  But will such a torrent of tourists really make us all a little richer?  I suppose I should qualify my optimism a tad.  Those individuals and organizations who have the wherewithal to act in advance, to “bet” on Western New York and the total solar eclipse, could well get a little richer from having done so.  If the government of Erie County grants dollar-per-dollar tax credits to those who invest in real estate for the sake of the Eclipse Escapade, those who invest could get a return.  Please note, I am not proposing that the county refrain from taxing individuals who choose to invest in The Eclipse Escapade, thereby denying itself of revenue.  Rather, I am proposing that the county create an option, during this utterly unique moment that we live in, for taxpayers to CHOOSE how their money will be spent.  If investors contribute money to housing renewal in Erie County, they will still be spending money on county betterment, as is the purpose of taxes. The difference is that, for this distinct occasion, taxpayers will be contributing money in a way that they see fit, toward housing renewal.  Will these citizen-investors receive an additional R.O.I.?  Quite possibly.  Let’s say we can find a way to align the contributions of many investors toward one, focused project of general, neighborhood improvement.  In other words, let’s say all the capital improvements happen in one neighborhood, and thus there is a general beautification of the neighborhood, and thus the added value to the neighborhood is compounded.  By “compounded” I mean that each improved, individual home would lend an increase of value to the neighborhood, and the general enhancement of the neighborhood would add value to the individual home.  With such compounding improvement happening, citizen-investors are likely to get a return when the houses are sold.

Am I proposing the county lose out for the sake of the Eclipse Escapade?  Not at all.  The industry generated from a focused effort to renew housing will generate jobs, and jobs leads to an increase in tax returns.  In addition, if a currently vacant house becomes an occupied house after the eclipse, like, for example, if a climate change refugee purchases it and moves into it, then the county will have a new source of property tax.  When the day of the eclipse has come and gone, these houses will be available for climate change refugees, or for refugees from war, or for whatever newcomers come to our city. Greater occupancy means greater tax revenues for the county and the city.  Finally, who knows how much economic activity and industry a torrent of tourists in our midst will generate, and how much tax revenue shall be garnered?

I know Western New York is divided into little territories.  It is as if we, rather than being a unified county, we are a loose set of provinces under the Empire State.  We should become the commonwealth of Erie County.  Our leadership should stop trying to control their little, isolated territories, and find ways for the whole county to become more wealthy.   The approaching solar eclipse is a wonder presented for all the Earthlings of Western New York, and all the Earthlings who might pilgrimage to our place.  We should be a commonwealth in our anticipation of the total solar eclipse.      

So, since we might all gain wealth, let us all become rulers.  With all due respect to the dear, departed monarch of the United Kingdom, we all know a better leader than she is, now. Indeed, we all might BE better leaders than she will ever be again.  For she has gone the way of all the world.  To employ a Brittish expression, the queen has popped her clogs, and yet we, the living carry on in our rulership in our own, living way.  As Ecclesiastes says, “Anyone who is among the living has hope – even a live dog is better off than a dead lion.” (9:4)  Let’s let the leaders in our midst know about the possibility of the Eclipse Escapade, and no matter our station, let us all take on a leadership role.  Let’s pull a blinder, get full of beans, get our quids in, and make the Eclipse Escapade the bee’s knees.  The sun rules the day, and the moon rules the night, and neither will wait for us to rule as we might, so let all citizens of Western New York rule, in the way that is right.