Home of Today's Common Sense

Published – Brownsville Herald January 9, 2005
Like everyone, I have been inundated with so much news of catastrophic events, corruption, murder, and all manner of sick things like people even quibbling about who is more generous. I was taught that you helped quietly so as to not hurt the dignity of the needy. So I looked elsewhere.
I want to report the good news that I have personally witnessed that true capitalism is alive and well here in Brownsville and I suspect in most of the rest of the U.S.
Last Sunday, I went the Flea Market on Highway 77 as I often do for – exercise, as I tell myself and discovered that it was packed. Parking was difficult and I had to walk quite a ways to get to the vendor area. People were everywhere and many had new purchases clutched in their hands. My first thought was: ”Where are those enterprising souls that used to help shoppers from the HEB downtown across the bridge to Matamoros?” Then I stopped to look at what was being purchased – and at what prices! This struck me as a perfect opportunity to do a rather in-depth market survey and wondered if the department store managers were out there. All of the elements of pure capitalism were there; The buyer – the seller and a medium of exchange. There were so many different items being offered and after some aggressive negotiating some one’s products became another’s treasures. It was relatively easy to evaluate what a particular product was worth when I watched similar transactions being negotiated over and over. It was also easy to see what kinds of products were most sought after when you just look at what kinds things were being loaded into the cars in the parking lot and what vendors remain in the market week after week.

The products are as varied as any imagination – I saw what you might expect, furniture, clothing, footwear, hats, tools, personal care items, computers, audio equipment, house wares, paint, office equipment and accessories that were bought at garage sales, auctions or surplus sales.
I also saw some things that really gave me hope for the future of our region. There were many vendors that were selling the products of their labors as well! I saw value added!! I saw some unique hand made furniture, craft products as well as; some regular used items that were obviously refurbished or in some cases rebuilt by hand and seemed to be better than new, as they took on the personality of the individual; some hard to find items like unique packaged spices in large (not commercial) sizes that were researched and selected with care; some plants that were locally grown and therefore acclimated to the area – along with a vendor that can tell you how to care for them; some locally caught shrimp that when I cooked them, tasted so much more flavorful than some I got at the grocery; booths of fresh vegetables (some locally grown) and locally grown fruit (The navel oranges I got were the sweetest and juiciest I have ever tasted.
There were so many different kinds of things that I couldn’t begin to even enumerate them but I couldn’t leave out the food! Oooh the food! When I walked into the area the wonderful smells of menudo, fajitas, pizza and fried potato spirals assailed me and my mouth watered to distraction. Oh those elotes!!!
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Here, I refer to one visit on one day to one Flea Market, there are many others each with its particular personality and vendors and the wonderful food!
It is always worth a trip to the one on Mexico Boulevard, and I have seen great things at those in Mercedes, Donna/Weslaco, and the several in McAllen.
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The important thing is that individuals are doing what made America what it is, using their own initiative and creativity to advance themselves. Some may move on to prominence and become permanent enterprises but here they can take the risk with a smaller investment and only a minimum of government interference – that required for the safety of the community.
I now wonder could there be a need for: a daily/weekly seafood market in the Rio Grande Valley, perhaps in Port Isabel, Port of Brownsville, Port Harlingen or maybe Port Mansfield to provide fresh seafood right off the boats to restaurants and the public who want the freshest available. In much of the rest of the world these “Wet Markets” are thriving.
How about a locally grown vegetable market, a weekly crafts and art market or a “Swap Meet” that specializes only in antiques and collectables; the possibilities are endless, only a bit of the famous American Enterprise is needed. In case you haven’t noticed, that “American Enterprise” is magically instilled in new immigrants upon arrival in “The Land of the Free”.