The Dark Side of New Mexican Culture

Out of all 50 states, New Mexico ranks dead last at #50 — second-worst in safety with the highest crime rate in the nation, not to mention last in education. It isn't a destination most people want to bring their family or business to, and can you blame them? One of the only things people know about New Mexico is the show "Breaking Bad," so drugs and crime.

But why is it so bad?

Not All Cultures Are Created Equal

I started my business 10 years ago, but it wasn't in New Mexico — it was in the Bible Belt in Nashville, TN. At that time, the community was nothing but supportive. I experienced a culture of people quick to celebrate others' successes, willing to cooperate toward shared goals, and generous to give advice and resources if needed. I don't believe this attitude was accidental, but rather the fruit of Christian roots.

You've probably heard the phrase "a rising tide lifts all boats," and this was that in action. There wasn't a sense of envy, insecurity, or resentment. We all understood there was enough love to go around, and because of this, prosperity and blessing were allowed to exist, attracting others to contribute their time, talent, and treasure, elevating the town and therefore its citizens and businesses along with it. When I decided to move my operation back to New Mexico in 2016, I naively thought I could pick up my roots, replant, and pick up right where I left off. I was mistaken.

Tall Poppy Syndrome

The soil in New Mexico is very different from the soil in Tennessee, and it produces different fruit. One of these fruits is something I've heard described as "Tall Poppy Syndrome" — a social phenomenon where people who stand out due to talents or successes are cut down, resented, and undermined rather than celebrated. There are many exceptions to this, of course, but generally speaking, I've found it to be true. This attitude is what discourages innovation and ambition, preventing actual progress from being made.

Scarcity Mindset

There's another fruit I've heard of called "scarcity mindset" — the belief that there isn't enough to go around, and so we must fight each other to get our own. This is the antithesis of the "rising tide lifts all boats" idea and is effectively a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead of blessing and prosperity, it breeds poverty and scarcity, discouraging others from even trying, holding the city down.

I've since come to understand that these contrasting cultural attitudes aren't accidental — they're cultivated. The fruits are consequences of our worship. What do I mean?

Culture Is Downstream from Religion

Whether conscious or unconscious, everybody is religious. It's not whether we will worship, but what will be the object of that worship. We are all worshiping something all the time.

The current condition of New Mexico, being that it's statistically the worst state in the nation, is not an accident — it's the consequence of its collective worship. It's a lack of obedience to the one true God.

The way I see it, New Mexico is living off the inheritance of a once-Christian culture, and like the prodigal son eating pig slop, that inheritance is all but gone. Unless there is repentance, it won't end well. New Mexico doesn't have to live this way — it too can prosper, but it will come at the cost of worshiping Jesus Christ as Lord.

(This blog was originally written in mid 2025 when the stats were slightly less bad. Now New Mexico ranks dead last)

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