As 2021 drew to a close, Harry Reid and John Madden died on December 28, and Betty White died on New Year’s Eve. All three were American originals. Reid and Madden were bookends with completely different personalities. White was one-of-a-kind. Their stories are uniquely American and help tell the evolving and multifaceted narrative of our American experiment. We need to hear and remember them in order to continue this experiment on its upward trajectory. We … [Read more...]
Articles
Frank blogs regularly for the Huffington Post and writes occasional columns and articles for publications such as the International Business Times and The Economic Times of India.
Frank writes on a wide variety of topics that are critical to shaping the future of America and the American dream and to making the United States and the world a better place. These include: Business; education; poverty and inequality; politics and public policy; immigration; manufacturing; innovation; leadership; citizenship; and social commentary.
Frank’s most recent blogs are highlighted on this page. To read other blogs or articles by Frank, click on the categories or publications links on the left.
The Island States of America: Is that this country’s future?
The opposite of left is right, the opposite of right is wrong/ So anyone who’s left is wrong, right? Those are lyrics from a song that the brilliant Stephen Sondheim wrote for his 1964 musical Anyone Can Whistle. In 2022, because of the polarization in this extremely divided country, the lyrics for a current song titled Whistlin’ Into the Wind might go something like this: If there is only the right and only the left, there is no … [Read more...]
Yearend Reflection: Let’s love, Not Hate One Another
Social cohesion within countries has been slowly eroding for some time; social media has accelerated that erosion. In a few days, the curtain will fall on one of the most tragic years in the history of independent India. Not since the dark days of partition in 1947 have the nation’s streets witnessed death and misery of such a magnitude as they did in 2021. Compared to many other parts of the world, 2021 began on a somewhat optimistic note for many Indians. The … [Read more...]
Democracy summit: A first Step for Renewing Democracy Worldwide
On December 9-10, United States (US) President Joe Biden convened the first Summit for Democracy virtually. Roughly 100 leaders participated in the summit. The main goal for this forum was to bolster democracy worldwide at a time when it has retreated in many countries, including in the US. The summit had three major themes: Fighting authoritarianism, tackling corruption, and promoting human rights. Why did the Biden administration convene this event? What necessitated it? The first … [Read more...]
Holiday Wishes for a Troubled but Promised Land
As this trying year winds to a close, America is a troubled land. Because of that, we felt it was appropriate to review and renew our holiday wishes from last year. Our holiday wishes in 2020 focused on remembering and wishing. They follow. As we enter this holiday season, it is essential to remember that America, this immigrant nation, has been and is a promised land for so many. President Barack Obama remembers. That is why he titled his memoir A Promised … [Read more...]
Word Of The Year: Critical Race
Our word of the year is Critical Race. That’s not critical race theory, but critical race. We will explain the distinction and the reason for our selection in a moment. Before we do, let us list our three other possible choices for this year. They were: Woke — or should that be “still asleep”? Freedom — or should that be “free dumb”? Democracy — or should that be “autocracy”? Seriously, 2021 was a crazy and convoluted year in which rationality was abandoned, the Big … [Read more...]
Post-Glasgow, India should become a leader in the green energy drive
The United Nations climate change conference ended in Glasgow, Scotland, November 13, more than a day later than scheduled, with an agreement to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level. Among other measures, the conference also broadly agreed to: eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, phase down coal power and end deforestation. In addition, it urged rich nations to offer financial assistance to developing countries to help with their transition from fossil fuels to … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Thoughts for These Trying Times
Due to the political, racial, economic, geographic, and religious polarization, 2021 has been a trying year for this nation. In spite of this, there is still much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We are thankful for many of the same things that we have been for the near-decade we have been sharing our Thanksgiving thoughts. We posted four Thanksgiving blogs in that time period. In each of those blogs, we first highlighted problematic and contentious issues of the year and … [Read more...]
Facebook won’t reform on its own. Strong regulation is key
The past five years have been phenomenally good for Facebook’s bottomline. Its market cap has nearly tripled since November 2016. In the most recent quarter, Facebook’s profit grew 17% to $9.19 billion. However, from a public relations standpoint, the years since 2016 have been difficult for Facebook, as its business practices have been scrutinised the world over. The recent release of a trove of whistleblower documents, dubbed the Facebook Papers, was so damaging that … [Read more...]
Hope Dies Last: Why Hope Matters for America’s Future
We have spent the past two years impaled in partisan political conflict aimed at blocking problem solving, collaboration, and compromise. This conflict has increased citizen skepticism and cynicism and reduced hope. Those are lines from a HuffPost blog titled “Hope Dies Last” that we posted in October 2012. Now, nearly a decade later, that citizen skepticism and cynicism has turned to anger and hostility. And, with the perpetuation of the Big Lie, the … [Read more...]