In America Alone, Mark Steyn writes, "demography doesn't explain everything, but it accounts for a good 90 percent." Those who share Steyn's keen interest in demographics will appreciate this story about Steve Murdock, the Texas state demographer. Here is how Murdock sees demography changing the future of the Lone Star state:

Texas is changing. It is growing older and browner, with the elderly and Hispanic populations growing at an unprecedented rate. And as the populations increase, so will the challenges.

If current trends continue, Texas' work force will be less educated and less skilled. State services, already burdened, may be strained to a point never experienced before. The numbers provided by Murdock support the dire warnings:

Hispanics may represent 53 percent of the population by 2030, compared to 30.3 percent for Anglos and 9.2 percent for blacks.

More than half of Hispanics 25 and older had failed to finish high school in 2000; fewer than 20 percent had completed some college, and only about 10 percent had a college degree.

Hispanics could occupy 38 percent to 52 percent of the Texas work force by 2030.

By 2030, 16 percent to 20 percent of the population will be 65 or older, an increase of about 10 percent over 2000. Most will be Anglos. Of Texans older than 65 in 2000, 72.6 percent were Anglo, 16.7 percent Hispanic.

The aging population -- coupled with a segment that is less educated and, thus, earning less money -- will strain social services, including those for the elderly.

"An educated work force raises income levels, which generates businesses activity and increases the market for goods and services," Murdock said. "It also increases investments for new businesses, which in turn increases tax revenues. Higher education equals higher incomes."

Sen. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, said education is perhaps the most important issue facing the state.

"This is really a wake-up call," he said. "The conclusion is that by the year 2025, if we keep doing what we're doing now, Texas will have the economy of a Third Word country. I have a son who will be 21 in 2025, and that's just not the kind of Texas I want to turn over to him."

If these demographic trends pose challenges, however, they also present opportunities.

"Growth is a double-edged sword," Murdock said. "With challenges come opportunities. The key is to have the opportunities be greater than the challenges."

Governor Rick Perry has taken some serious heat for defending a law giving tuition breaks to the children of undocumented immigrants attending state universities. But you can understand the difficult spot he's in as chief executive of the state: Unless you're going to round up all the illegal immigrants and deport them - which is not only impractical but would devastate the state's economy - you'd better try and find ways of educating them, or face the undesirable consequences of an aging, undereducated population.