Unless the conservative wing within the House Republican Party succeeds in scuttling it, President Barack Obama is likely to sign a comprehensive new immigration law this summer, the first signature legislation of his second term. The legislation, the second major immigration law in 27 years, will have a far-reaching impact. The potential legalisation of more than 11 million illegal immigrants would, no doubt, raise the living standard of those people and also boost the American … [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.
Remembering West, Texas: Lessons from a Tragedy
The blasts at the two chemical plants in Louisiana a day apart on June 13 and June 14 brought back to memory the explosion in West, Texas approximately two months earlier on April 17. A total of three people and more than 100 were injured in the two Louisiana blasts but there was apparently little collateral damage to the surrounding neighborhoods. In contrast, the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company killed 15 (most of whom were fire fighters and first responders), injured at least 200 … [Read more...]
The Necessity for “Muddling Through” Economics
An old joke goes, "If you laid all the economists in the world end to end, they still wouldn't reach a conclusion." That may no longer be the case. Some of the world's top macro-economists convened in a conference titled "Rethinking Macro Policy II" by the International Monetary Fund in April of this year generally agreed on one thing. They concluded that the existing macro-economic models did not do a good job in predicting or preventing the financial crisis of 2008-2009 nor in stimulating … [Read more...]
Minimum Wage, Maximum Dissent
Given the reactions that President Obama got after he proposed raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour in his State of the Union address, he must have felt a little like comedian Rodney Dangerfield. He just didn't get any respect. And that was from the left and the right. Those on the conservative side criticized the increase as a job killer and harmful to small business. Those on the progressive side criticized the increase as insufficient and too small to be meaningful. From the right, … [Read more...]
Will We Have Another?
The 144th Belmont Stakes was run on Saturday, June 9, but without I'll Have Another, the Triple Crown contender, who was withdrawn from the race because of tendinitis. That raised the question in our mind, "Will we have another?" No, not a racing Triple Crown winner. We are confident that another champion horse will come along to claim that title -- even though there hasn't been one for more than 30 years since Affirmed won in 1978. Our question relates to a different type of race: that among … [Read more...]
Big Data and Deep Learning: Big Deals or Big Delusions?
Big Data and Deep Learning are two major trends that will impact and influence the future direction and potential of innovation in the United States. From the deluge of information on both trends over the past year, it would appear that they may be key drivers for the future growth of the American economy. We're not that sanguine. In our opinion, both of these trends have substantial promise. But, they also have limitations that must be overcome to deliver on that promise. Let's examine … [Read more...]
States of India, America Go For a Merry Investment Tango
Chief Ministers woo foreign investors to their states. The interest is mutual Sixteen months ago, when Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his Maryland counterpart Martin O’Malley visited India on near-simultaneous trade missions, it was a showcase of American federalism at its best. Governors, as chief executives, are largely responsible for running their states economies in the US. Because of the highly decentralized nature of the US system, state leaders like McDonnell and O’Malley have a … [Read more...]
The Other Gandhi in Washington DC’s chief financial officer Nat Gandhi leaves quite a legacy
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is the only Indian who has a statue erected in his honour in Washington, a town of splendid memorials. While the Mahatma is a constant spiritual presence in the US capital — there is also a Gandhi Memorial Center— fiscally, it is the footprints of another Gujarati and Gandhi that is everywhere in the city: of the retiring District of Columbia chief financial officer (CFO) Natwar Gandhi. During Nat Gandhi’s 12-year tenure as the independent CFO, the city made an epic … [Read more...]
National Service Not Military Service
A debate has erupted over the past year or so regarding reinstating the military draft. Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) has introduced a bill for this purpose. Proponents of the reinstatement include Thomas Ricks, a fellow at the Center for New American Security, and Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration. Their primary arguments center on the points a draft would cause greater deliberation before entering a conflict, shorten the length of … [Read more...]
Need to Start the Small Business Engines
Historically, American small businesses have been strong engines for job creation. Since the Great Recession, those engines have either been turned off or idling. We need to start those engines again if we want to get on the road to meaningful economic growth and recovery. Given the current attitude and the performance of the small business community over the past few years, however, that will not be an easy proposition. Two polls released recently reveal the extent of the problem. The January … [Read more...]