In 1984, the American rock band Talking Heads released a classic live album titled Stop Making Sense. That album featured songs such as Psycho Killer, Burning Down the House, and Life During Wartime. That album title could be America’s new national anthem as those cuts are emblematic of the politically and socially divided times in which we Americans find ourselves today. We are living in a country in which truth has become fiction, conspiracy theories have … [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.
Economic headwinds are hurting the world
Finance ministers, economists and representatives of 180 countries convened in Washington DC earlier this month for the first in-person annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Group since the onset of Covid-19 in 2020. With the global economy on shaky ground, the mood was sombre. Days before the event, World Bank president David Malpass warned, “A series of harsh events and unprecedented macroeconomic policies are combining to throw development into crisis. … [Read more...]
Why Indo-Americans must speak up on race relations
A viral video showing a woman hurling racial abuse at four Indian-American women outside a restaurant in Plano, Texas, sparked outrage on social media. “I hate you f*****g Indians,” the woman, who was arrested later, shouted. “Oh, these f****** Indians! They come to America because they want a better life. They obviously are not leading a great life in India.” The incident happened less than two months after an armed man showed up at the Seattle home of … [Read more...]
What is the Future of Public Education in the U.S.?
Public education is one of the primary pillars on which this American democracy was built during the 19th and 20th centuries. In this 21st century, especially over the past few years, public education has been pilloried. The question becomes what is the future for public education in the U.S.? To determine that let’s examine its history, current status, and the challenges and opportunities for public education going forward. Public Education … [Read more...]
Is Our American Democracy Unfurling or Unraveling?
January 6, 2021 is a date that will be remembered in American history. This will be the case because of the storming of the halls of Congress by a mob of insurrectionists intent on impeding the democratic process. January 6, 2011 will not be remembered. But there was something that happened in Congress then as well which tells us something about the nature of our American democracy. On that date, near the outset of the newly assembled 112th Congress, members of the … [Read more...]
Why Indo-Americans must speak up on race relations
As a significant demographic, they must speak out on race relations, engage other minority groups and civil rights organisations, and use our formidable resources to work for racial equality and justice for all in the US. A viral video showing a woman hurling racial abuse at four Indian-American women outside a restaurant in Plano, Texas, sparked outrage on social media. “I hate you f*****g Indians,” the woman, who was arrested later, shouted. “Oh, these f****** Indians! They … [Read more...]
Recession: A Critical Time for Small Businesses
72% of the 198 panelists polled by National Association for Business Economics (NABE) in early August predicted that the United States would be in a recession by the middle of 2023. 19% of those surveyed felt the economy is already in a recession. There is no certainty in either of those assessments. There is a certainty, however, that a recession would lead to the deaths of small businesses and precipitate the births of small businesses as well. The small business deaths will be … [Read more...]
Will “Moneypox” end America’s Labor Daze?
The outbreak of Monkeypox in the United States continues to worsen. It has been declared a national health emergency and the federal government is taking steps to reduce its spread through vaccinations. Moneypox in our country also continues to worsen. We define moneypox as an infectious condition of the American economy in which those with considerable wealth get richer and those of lesser means get poorer. There are and will be no vaccinations that can be used to … [Read more...]
News in America is in Trouble. Part 3: Time to Rewrite the Story
This is the third part of a three-part series on News in America. Part 1 provided the consumers’ perspective on the news. Part 2 presented journalists’ thoughts and industry data. This part sets out improvement recommendations… The News in America is in trouble. Consumers think that. Journalists think that. It is time to rewrite that story because, as discussed in our earlier blogs, the news has been in a downward trajectory in this 21st century. If that trajectory … [Read more...]
News in America is in Trouble. Part 2: State of the Industry
This is the second part of a three-part series on News in America. Part 1 provided the consumers’ perspective on the news. This part outlines journalists’ thoughts and industry data. Part 3 will present improvement recommendations. News in America is in trouble. It is “struggling” and in “chaos.” Those descriptors are not ours, but words of journalists who participated in a Pew Research Center survey (Pew) of nearly 12,000 U.S.-based journalists conducted in the … [Read more...]