The majority of those that live in Santa Fe and many in ABQ have no idea what it's like to live in the rest of the state. ABQ has lots of federal government and state jobs with strip malls barely hanging on. The real action (and that they are trying to kill) is in SE NM where the oil and gas industry is flourishing and would do so more if the feds would lift its heavy hand on leasing on federal lands.
Went to a lecture last night in our local high school auditorium to see Mike Rowe who earlier yesterday dedicated a $46.5 million dollar facility* to bring back vocational "shop" classes to students. The event started with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer. It felt very much like years past and we wouldn't see the presentation beginning that way in ABQ or Santa Fe.
Do these people ever leave their houses? All one has to do is drive over that big, rambling mountain range east of ABQ and then behold sprawling desert, followed by more desert (and the town of Moriarty).