A. One answer to the first part of the question is that New Mexico state law allows and encourages communities, counties and regional development agencies to plan. But that's not a very satisfying answer.
Planning does have practical as well as idealistic values.
As we look into them, you will begin to understand why the state legislature thought it well to authorize local governments to do comprehensive planning. We all plan at some time in our lives and when we do, it's usually for one of two basic reasons. One is we want to accomplish something, some goal, be it practical or idealistic. Or we want to avoid or prevent something, such as poverty or getting sick. In planning we use whatever facts we have, to help us make our best guess about the future and choose the best and most practicable steps to accomplish our goals.