Frank A. Weil

Much needed attention is being given today to the growing disparity of income between the few and the many. There are several concerns about this problem that go beyond simple fairness issues.

Too much inequality for too long a time can lead to corrosive relationships between parts of society that...

In anticipation of this year's election, a big debate is gathering steam -- citing Obama's alleged failures, first in creating job losses and then in not recreating new jobs, versus Romney's so-called record of killing jobs and creating new jobs.

The real facts are simple and clear. Obama is being...

It is gradually dawning on many Americans that an extraordinary collection of economic and fiscal events will converge at the beginning of next year, the collective impact of which will/would be greater than any other single such moment in our history. These events include: the lapse of the Bush II...

After failing to recognize and admit a mistake you've made, and then failing to try to correct that mistake, you're in big trouble.

If you've never fallen into that trap, you probably don't need to continue reading this piece.

On the other hand, if you have ever erred in that...

Facebook, Twitter and an almost fully-connected world of the Internet, computers, smartphones and cell phones have surely changed how people relate to the world around them and how they feel about themselves.

Some wired people feel reassured that they are part of an ever-larger, albeit synthetic, crowd of friends. Others...

Who in their right mind could vote against a bill in Congress entitled the "JOBS Act"? The answer obviously is very few members of either house.

How many of those who voted for it knew what was in it? And how many of those who read it connected its provisions...

One can list only a dozen or so pivotal Supreme Court cases that really changed the course of citizens' lives in U.S. history. For example, in recent years, Roe v. Wade in respect to women's right of choice, and Brown v. Board of Education in respect to equality among the...

The combination of hot air from politicians' breath meeting the cold air of economic declines produces fog in much the same way marine salt air fog is created -- and with much the same effect: hard and risky to find one's way around. Now, the global fog seems to be...

The now infamous Citizen United case, when the Supreme Court opened the flood gates of money into our political process, might just as well have put up a sign saying "GOVERNMENT FOR SALE."

So far the public does not seem to have fully grasped what is happening. "Independent" committees have...

The convergence of a birthday with Valentine's Day (which has been happening to me now for 81 years in a row!) is both a reminder and indicator of changes in how modern society works.

When you think about the world in 1931, the year I was born, well over 40...

Long observation and personal experience have taught me several lessons that apparently remain opaque to many people. Accordingly, perhaps there is benefit in spelling them out to bring the essentials to the attention of folks who might be interested.

Growth: We grow in many ways: physically, mentally and emotionally, for...

Time is a construct of man to organize life on earth into a manageable process that can be utilized by virtually all of mankind, regardless of language, location or origin. And indeed, that process takes into account the daily rotation of earth and its yearly rotation of its star, the...

The drama of this century to date plays on with amazing speed and volatility. The Greek government and people, despite more than enough reasons for some of them to either be in jail or in purgatory, are now into dignity, independence and hysterical, historical self-justification. Don't get me wrong --...

As we go about our lives in this presidential election year we know, hear and read about rapidly growing income disparity, particularly in the United States and Europe. While we know that this is a problem that can lead to civil unrest and worse, and while we see various examples...

The term "family foundation" is fairly common today, but it is rarely thought about in terms of what it means in contrast to other types of foundations - personal, corporate or institutional. No doubt there are many types of family foundations. This family has struggled to find and give meaning...

The caucuses in Iowa are really amazing. They combine the best and worst of comedy, tragedy, drama, surprise, boredom, suspense and, most important of all, a tiny peek at the genius of the American political system at a microscopic level.

When we compare the political scenery from Iran, Syria, Egypt,...

In an effort to learn more about the magic of presidential power and style, I came across a book last summer which deserves real attention again, more than 50 years after it was published in 1952 by Harpers & Co. Written by Samuel I. Rosenman, who had been the chief...

The prevailing mood seems to reflect that the end of the world, as we have known it, is near. Wherever I turn, I hear people groaning:

• Europe is headed for bankruptcy;
• China has a new leader coming and is stepping on its brakes;
• the U.S. is in a...

First, S&P and Moody have made hash out of their duty to be independent and assess the worthiness of bucketsful of real estate-related securities in the first decade of this century. Now on the rebound they are trying to regain their balance and reputations by heroically assessing and talking about...

Folks, people keep telling me I have lost the narrative and am not coming across in a way that explains the economy and what my administration is trying to do about it. I thought I was laying it out in a straightforward and simple way, but perhaps it requires more...