Texas Is the Future — If Only It Doesn't Become California
People are flocking to the Lone Star State, lured by ample land, big, diverse cities and a growing economy. To keep thriving, a new pragmatism is needed.
Texas will have to step on some toes to become the most important state
Photographer: Bloomberg
More Americans are realizing that Texas is the future. With its vast land area, thriving cities, ample resources and cosmopolitan diversity, the Lone Star State is attracting inflows of population from all over the country, and the news media seems to recognize the state’s importance. But if it’s going to fulfill its promise, Texas will have to make some changes.
Its status as the state that embodies America’s future is most clearly seen when compared to California. For decades, the Golden State outgrew the Lone Star State, but in recent years the gap has begun to narrow: