New Mexico history makes tough sledding for business

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | January 31, 2016 | Winthrop Quigley

[CedarDave]

There is really no convincing evidence that a right-to-work law by itself helps a state’s economy, as proponents contend, or hurts a state’s workers, as opponents claim.

New Mexico is not a business-friendly state. Right-to-work won’t change that, because a single law will not undo a culture 400 years in the making. New Mexico was a colony first of Spain, then of the United States. I would argue that, because of our almost total dependence on federal energy and defense spending for what economic progress we did enjoy in the 20th century, New Mexico, as a ward of Washington, in some ways remains a colony to this day.

Colonized people learn to be resentful and suspicious, and this habit of thinking informs our attitude toward business.

Businesses have a laundry list of issues they say makes life more difficult here than in other states. Union trouble is way down on the list. Business leaders find our tax code confusing, and its enforcement inconsistent and arbitrary. They say our courts favor plaintiffs over the businesses they sue. Our regulatory environment is chaotic. ... Labor costs are being set at the local level, not by markets, but by law.

Worst of all, some successful people in our state say they face hostility and suspicion simply because they are successful. ...

They see their peers in other states honored for their achievements and contributions. Here, they say, they face scorn or indifference, so they start looking for business opportunities elsewhere, taking with them the capital our state needs if it is to solve our chronic poverty.

This is the colonial mindset at work. The wounds of a colonized people do not heal quickly. Today’s successful people are in some ways paying for the sins of their predecessors in power.

[CedarDave]

Thought provoking column. As one NM FR member said in a comment on an earlier thread, NM has ranching, oil and gas, government and not much else. Until the mind set of the entrenched legislative Democrats in ABQ and Santa Fe change (gimme, gimme), the state will never emerge from the quagmire. So with drought taking a toll on the ranchers, oil/gas prices in the tank, and the Federal government cutting back on military and science jobs, what's left are us peasants selling trinkets to the tourists at the ABQ Old Town plaza and by the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe.

[CedarDave]

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[stocksthatgoup]

This article will please all the snowbirds and California immigrants.

[Vince Ferrer]

As a Coloradoan who goes to New Mexico regularly, the difference is becoming striking between the two states.

[CedarDave]

Some supportive comments to the article:

I found ABQ to be a very divided place with not much of a middle class. It's a great place to visit, but day-to-day living for most people is pretty tough. Opportunities are limited because of the toxic business atmosphere. Sadly, change does not appear to be on its way in the near future. I continue to hear of people living [leaving] due to lack of opportunity.

And:

The entire political, social, and economic structure of the state has been corrupted for several hundred years, and there's not going to be a fix any time in the near future. The fact that this is attitude is being sold off as "the culture" of New Mexico is why so many businesses and workers choose to LEAVE this place.

Another:

Excellent comment. when I moved here from another state 10 years ago I could not believe that attitude here from school to work it's a cultural issue. I can't believe how many people are on welfare and working off the books. They should try like what they did in Maine - mandatory work for your welfare benefits, guess what 50 percent reduction, wow can't be at 2 places at the same time. And a exodus of folks leaving the state as well.

[MAKOTHEDOG]

I have never understood how the businesses in Old Town Plaza even make money. To me, it seems like most operate at a loss every year and they just run the biz because they are bored or until they run out of money.

Silver City is even worse.

[Oldexpat]

We drive thru on the way to CO and note that NM is a state of double wides.

[MAKOTHEDOG]

I used to live in CO and can also say that there is a difference.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I visited Albuquerque a few years back to see if it would be a good place to relocate.

When people thought I was on vacation they were very friendly and helpful.

When I told them I was interested in possibly moving there they ceased being friendly and helpful almost instantly.

The change was so quick it was eerie.

Of course I also told them I was from California, so that probably didn't help either.

[proxy_user]

Art, handicrafts, jewelry? Do the proprietors seem well to do? Trust funds and stock dividends is the answer.

[MAKOTHEDOG]

Art, handicrafts, jewelry? Do the proprietors seem well to do? Trust funds and stock dividends is the answer.

That is exactly what I think as well and it is their money to lose I suppose.

[T-Bird45]

I enjoy visiting NM fairly often but have noticed many of the things mentioned in the column and in this thread. At one time, I thought it would be great to live in NM but quickly found out you have to cobble together three jobs to make one living and a poor living at that...but the mountains!!!

[Vermont Lt]

I’ve driven across this country a number of times. In 2014 I did it on a motorcycle. I stayed mostly on state and county roads.

I was amazed at how the “feel” of the road changed driving from Texas in NM, and again when I drove from NM into AZ. In NM the roadsides were covered with litter. People were sitting on their porches. There were a lot more junk cars in NM. It just looked run down.

My daughter lives there now, up near the Taos area. She is contracted through the end of the summer, and she cannot wait to get out of there.

[Da Coyote]

“This is the colonial mindset at work. The wounds of a colonized people do not heal quickly. Today’s successful people are in some ways paying for the sins of their predecessors in power.”

Sure sign of liberal writers....the problems are ALWAYS someone else’s fault.

Hey journalists, get off your collective poorly educated Obamaholes and produce something.

Besides bullsh*t.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Right-to-work laws only get implemented when the Dems are overthrown. Wisconsin is a good example. Businesses will move to where they can get reasonable labor.

[laplata]

I tend to agree with the “colonial mindset”, Da Coyote. I grew up in Rio Arriba County (Abiquiu area) and saw that mindset first hand until I went into the Army at age 18.

[LegendHasIt]

"Winthrop Quigley"

Yeah, Sure, I'm gonna turn to a guy named Winthrop Quigley" to understand the socioeconomics of New Mexico.

Back in the 1980s when I was a semi-bigshot business consultant working out of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, I was under the impression that New Mexico was very friendly to business, and never ran into anyone who was dragged down because of their 'colonial' roots.

I'll admit though that corrupt and/or incompetent State Government bureaucrats were a large impediment to starting and operating a business, if you had to go to them for permission. I don't know about now, but I seriously doubt it has gotten any better since.

[Rockpile]

It would seem nice to me if the eight southeastern counties joined Texas, especially Lea and Eddy Counties with the oil fields.

[Oatka]

The wounds of a colonized people do not heal quickly.

Losers never forget.

[Nucluside]

NM started becoming californicatd in the early to mid 1980s. When quoted prices on houses, real estate, ranches, etc. the Californians would simply whip out the check books and pay millions for what was thousands before. This is all business, of course, but people whose families had owned land for centuries were simply taxed off of it. There was resentment against moneyed Texans for the same reasons, but people said that the Texans were more vulgar about it.