The American economy in 2023 has proven to be tremendously resilient. The recession which had been forecast by many experts has not occurred. The rapidly rising inflation has been slowed and declined considerably. And, the national unemployment rate stands close to a near record low. In spite of this, there is still important work to be done. This is due to the fact that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of the end of July, there were 8.8 million unfilled job … [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.
LABOR STRIKES OUT
In baseball, if there is a strikeout, the pitcher and his teammates are happy and the batter and his teammates are unhappy. In the labor movement, given the results achieved to date through strikes in 2023, some workers are happy and others are not. Labor Striking Out Increases What can’t be disputed is that in 2022, and again in 2023, the strike returned to a position of prominence as a tool used by organized labor and those attempting to organize labor. As Sarah … [Read more...]
Green card backlog is hurting US innovation
Canadian work permit program attracts Indian tech professionals entangled in the prolonged US green card waiting process, highlighting flaws in US immigration. In mid-July, the Canadian government introduced a new initiative that provides work permits to foreign workers living in the United States (US) on valid H-1B visas. The programme, part of a series of immigration measures launched by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is aimed at addressing the growing demand for specialty workers … [Read more...]
Hope Must Not Die: It is Pivotal to America’s Future
“Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words – And never stops — at all — Emily Dickinson In the United States of America today, that bird has not stopped singing. But during these polarized and stressful times, it is losing some of its feathers, and its tune is being blocked for and by many. This is a dangerous condition for the future of our American democracy, its citizens, and the people of the … [Read more...]
Climate Change: A Critical Race We Must Win
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. — Robert Frost As 2021 drew to a close, we named “critical race” our word for that year. We chose critical race because, as we stated back then, America and Americans were in a race for the future comprised of many major contests. The contests we named at that time included: competition with China, domestic conflict, and climate change. With regard to climate change, we observed, While the political climate has … [Read more...]
Indian Americans must back affirmative action
Despite affirmative action ruling, however, statistics show that African Americans and Hispanics are still underrepresented in elite universities. Late last month, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled that the admission policies of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina (UNC), which gave weightage to students from minority communities, especially African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans, were unconstitutional and, therefore, illegal. The ruling, part … [Read more...]
The Supreme Court’s Confirmative, Retrograde, and Disruptive Action
There are none so blind as those who will not see. On June 29, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS), in its decision on two cases (Harvard University and the University of North Carolina), ruled that using race-related affirmative action for admission to colleges and universities violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. The Court’s ruling was a confirmative, retrograde, and disruptive action. The Confirmative Nature of the Court’s Action The decision confirmed that the … [Read more...]
Modi’s state visit to the US: A visit rich in style and substance
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a reception in Washington, befitting a state visit by the leader of the world's largest democracy. It was characterized by grandeur, splendor, and all the essential ceremonial elements. During his three-day stay in the US, India and the United States showcased the substantial nature of their relationship, reaffirming the upward trajectory it has been following for more than two decades. Among the highlights of the visit … [Read more...]
NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS
Not Necessarily the News was a satirical HBO comedy series that ran from 1983 to 1990. A small segment of Americans turned to the show back then to see the news spoofed in skits and altered actual news coverage as entertainment. Fast forward four decades to 2023, and what a large segment of the American public is turning to today as their source for the news is Not Necessarily the News. This was revealed in a national survey conducted by the Gallup and Knight Foundation in October … [Read more...]
OUR NATIONAL NIGHTMARE
In 2023, the United States of America continues to grow as a graveyard for the victims of mass shootings and other gun deaths. The USA gave birth to the American Dream of endless opportunity. For too many today, the USA has become an American Nightmare of opportunity ended. Mass Shooting and Gun Death Statistics Mass shootings capture the headlines and significant media coverage. Other deaths caused by, and with a gun, much less so. As the following discussion shows, Americans … [Read more...]