The global economy cannot afford to have another unsteady year like 2011. Perhaps the most apt adjective to describe the state of the global economy in 2011 would be "unsteady." With crisis after crisis casting giant shadows over nearly all major economies, last year, most of the world was more concerned about not falling into another recession than boosting growth. Those crises included a disconcerting impasse over raising debt ceiling in the United States that nearly led to the first‐ever … [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.
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In Good We Trust
In God we trust. So proclaimed the United States House in November when it overwhelmingly passed a resolution to reaffirm that statement as the official motto of the United States. Congressman J. Randy Forbes, (R, VA), the resolution's sponsor, said the measure was needed because of a "disturbing trend" of ignorance regarding the motto and to "firmly declare our trust in God" as the nation faces "challenging times." This is another example of misplaced Congressional priorities and … [Read more...]
You Can’t Get There From Here
Our nation's Capitol is a misdirected place. That's true not only on a political but on an experiential level as well. Trying to drive anywhere in or around the city proves that the transportation grid is simply a reflection of the gridlock that dominates the debates or lack thereof in political circles. You can't turn left on a light -- or an issue. You can turn right -- from either side of the aisle, at any time. You can make a U-turn anywhere you want -- that's what's called Washington … [Read more...]
Occupiers or Liberators?
When the United States military invaded Iraq in 2003, many of that nation's citizens looked at and referred to them as "occupiers". We preferred to see and call ourselves "liberators." Today a group in the United States that labels itself "occupiers" has taken up temporary residence on Wall Street and major streets in other cities across the country. In our opinion, these so-called occupiers also deserve the appellation "liberators". Unlike our military, this rag tag army is a motley crew. … [Read more...]
Rise and fall of Raj and Rajat
WASHINGTON, DC: A high-profile insider trading case, which has already resulted in the fall of one of the richest South Asian Americans, is threatening to bring down an iconic figure within the community. Rajat Gupta, who was arrested last Wednesday for providing insider information to his billionaire friend Raj Rajaratnam, is now fighting to not just save his reputation, but also to stay out of jail. Rajaratnam was sentenced to a 11-year prison term after he was found guilty by a New … [Read more...]
A winning proposal
India and the US have agreed to strengthen their existing partnership in areas, such as science and engineering, social sciences and humanities US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Led by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and India Minister of Human Resources and Development Kapil Sibal, a group of high-level government officials, educators and college administrators from the United States and India brainstormed here On October 13 about taking their educational … [Read more...]
No More Jobs
Steve Jobs died last week and along with him may have passed some of America's hopes, dreams and potential for future jobs. Bur, this need not be the case, if we can learn the key lessons that Mr. Jobs, this quintessential American, provided through his life, leadership and continuous and incredible ability to reinvent himself and his businesses. President Obama described Jobs as "among the greatest of American innovators." Many other articles and tributes characterized Jobs as a … [Read more...]
Corruption: How India Differs From Developed Nations…
Although corruption is rampant at the grassroots level, people have signalled that it’s not business as usual any more. Ever since Anna Hazare launched his anti-graft movement earlier this year, reams of newsprint and exabytes of online space have been spent dissecting and analysing corruption in India. Nearly every aspect of corruption in the country has been explored and every socio-political theory related to it has been examined in the Indian context. A question repeatedly … [Read more...]
A Winning Game Plan
Howard Schultz, founder, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks, has recently called upon executives not to make any political donations until there is a "courageous, long-term bipartisan debt and financial security plan that addresses both entitlements and revenue." This request for abstinence from Mr. Schultz reminds us of a different Schulz. That is Charles Schulz of Peanuts cartoon fame. A favorite Charles Schulz cartoon of ours is one in which Lucy is holding a football for Charlie Brown to kick. … [Read more...]
It’s Time To Play in the 3-I League
On Friday, August 26, as Hurricane Irene began to move up the East Coast to give Washington, DC a physical lashing, Federal Reserve Bank Chair Ben Bernanke spoke out, from across the country in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to give our elected officials in the nation's capitol a tongue lashing. Chair Bernanke asserted, "...the country would be well served by a better process for making fiscal decisions. The negotiations that took place over the summer disrupted financial markets and probably the … [Read more...]