Amuse Ourselves to Death

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Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd frontman released a solo album sometime ago talking about how the ruin of our species is that we are going to amuse ourselves to death. I believe that one song on the album ends with the lead character charred as he sits in a chair with his television remote control in his dead hand.

Not exactly a warm thought. Yet I thought of all this as I listened to news that the Buffalo Bills lease is running out and that the poor poverty-stricken owner, Ralph Wilson, may have to move the team to a more viable market. The shock of it all sent terror through Buffalo - how can we live without our beloved Bills? The County Executive stated that we may have to build a state-of-the-art stadium on our undeveloped waterfront.

I've always been a sports fan, but enough is enough. Over the past ten years, Buffalo has been in a budget crisis, the population dwindles as young talent leaves for the promise of higher-paying jobs. Schools, churches, and libraries are closing. We are in serious need of finding a true identity. We are no longer a steel producing city.

Yet what are the answers? A new football stadium? A casino on every corner? A Bass Pro Shop?

The Bills have sold out nearly every home game since 1990. The owner makes money on parking, concessions, and taxpayer sweat. Every year, he complains about not being able to compete with the big markets. He sings the blues to the honest, hardworking members of this community, who year after year spend their hard-earned entertainment dollars on the Bills. To top it off, the team hasn't been fun to watch in about ten years.

Well, guess what Ralph? I can't compete either - I'm paying more for gas, more for food, more for education for my kids.

Keep threatening us with the possible move of the Bills to a bigger, more viable market - and rather than ending up like the charred character in Roger Waters' song - I just might be on line to show you the door.

Have a nice trip to Toronto - you won't be going over the new bridge that we never built.

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