If At First You Don't Succeed, Secede

I've been reading all the latest in the Richmond Times Dispatch about the goings-on that affect downtown Richmond's future. And, the only conclusion I can come up with is that I'm sick and tired of hearing about it. Do we build a ballpark or don't we? Do we build a performing arts center or don't we? The indecisiveness of Richmonders is mind-blowing.
I guess it's not really a failure to decide as much as it is a love for debate and controversy. Maybe I'm way-too-overly simplistic in my thinking, but why can't something ever get done around here? I think the strategy of many in positions of power is to just debate and wrangle over a matter for so long that eventually everyone will get tired and go home.
I went to the big "unveiling" in front of the old Thalhimers Department Store a few months ago. You'd have thought from the reaction of both city and surrounding county dignitaries that the Performing Arts Center was a done deal. It was proclaimed to be the "rebirth of a new downtown." There was dancing in the streets (literally, and yes, I do mean literally).
And now, there's so much controversy that I don't really care anymore. And, I bet there are others who feel the same way.
I'd love to see a downtown ballpark, but I'm so tired of hearing it debated, that it just doesn't matter. If NASCAR gives the Hall of Fame nod to Richmond, that'll probably start off with a lot of hoopla and quickly degenerate into complaints and debates about where it should be, and what it should look like, and such nonsense.
Obviously, you'll never please everyone, but can't someone just once come up with some plan that's innovative, and invigorating, and good for the entire region, that the majority will say, "That's great. Let's do it!"? And, then, they'll actually go out and do it.
So, I've come up with my own idea. It may not be politically correct. But, I say the West End should, taking a page from our Civil War era ancestors, just secede from the metro area. Let's just pretend that we're no part of Richmond. Let's build our own ball park and our own performing arts center. Let's put in our own trolly system.
Up 'til now, when someone asked where I live, I'd say Richmond, even though I don't really live in the city. From now on, I'll say Short Pump, even though I don't technically live there either. But, starting today, it's my new hometown.
Some have suggested that Short Pump is the new downtown. Well, let's just proclaim that to be the way it is. And forget about Richmond. Doug who?
Will that have negative social and economic implications on us West Enders? I don't know. I'm not that smart. But, evidently none of these developers and designers and innovators and business people who keep coming up with ideas, are that smart either. Or else, once-in-awhile, someone would come up with an idea that everyone would take a liking to.
I invite all these innovators to head west. Let's develop the West End. It'd be fun. Plus, there are enough of those Yankees living out that way, and we all know they'd love to secede from Richmond.
I have some great ideas myself. For instance, we could start by going into Short Pump and building this pedestrian bridge over Broad Street...