The border between Mexico and the US has been an issue in the political landscape for a number of years and every once in a while President Trump accents it. For a north-eastern such as myself, who has never been to the Mexican border, it is interesting to read about the southwest of the United States. We all know Christopher Columbus discovered parts of the Caribbean for Spain. A few years later, Cortez and other Soldiers or Conquistadors had planted Spain’s flag on 2/3’s of the Western Hemisphere. It helped greatly, Spain had access to Mexico’s gold and Peru’s silver which made Spain the richest country in Europe and the reason why gold coins were called Spanish dollars.

In a book called The Spanish West by the editors of Time-Life Books, published by Time-Life Books, NY, 1976 from 1492 to 1883, Spanish culture dominated the area much more than the Anglo-Saxon culture. Some 40 million people in North and South America spoke Spanish, observed Spanish laws, worshipped in Spanish Catholic churches and several million were citizens of the US.Many estates were based on old Spanish grants, Spanish architecture was the rule throughout the West. 7 states have Spanish names – Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. The landscape of mountains and rivers and towns have Spanish names. The cowboy and the horse came from Spain via Mexico. When you think about the west – beef cattle, sheep and the horse all came from Spain via Mexico.

Much of the west is desert but there are parts that are fertile or have access to water. The key to the growth of the west is water and later air conditioning. Given the low rain, the population of the west was never that great, so Mexico saw it has having potential but not sure what to do with it. In New Mexico – the Comanches and Apaches never allowed the population to grow. It would take settlers moving westward for new opportunities – some for the gold and silver discovered in California before the tribes were defeated by the US Cavalry or the mounted police of the US Army. Similar to many other areas, a war was fought for the states against Mexico. However, once the country was settled and Mexicans became Americans, their ties to Mexico and Spain did not stop.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, all companies have a history and they can build from it. Decisions were made in the past, which allowed the firm to prosper and grow to be what it is, but it still has a past. It is strange to think of all the ties Mexico and the US have, the history it shares, you wonder who is the President protecting the country from? If the argument is drug dealers, who is buying the drugs? One can always look at any issue from two sides – the present and past while looking to the future. The past can sometimes help prevent mistakes in the future.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.