Source: ChatGPT
RIP: Truth, Justice, and the American Way (Sept 2, 1942 – March 17, 2025)
This week, the long-ailing ideal of “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” succumbed to a final, fatal blow.
First mentioned in a radio episode of Superman during WWII, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” had endured assaults before — corrupt dealings, attacks on the press, and erosion of democratic norms — but in a decisive act of defiance, the United States government this week openly disregarded a judge’s order and deported individuals without due process.
This was not merely a failure of policy; it was the ultimate rejection of a principle that has long underpinned American leadership in industry, innovation, and global markets. The final nail in the coffin was not simply the act itself, but the administration’s response: mockery, derision, and a call to remove the judge who dared uphold the Constitution.
While much of the public discourse will focus on the human rights and legal implications of these actions, the business world — particularly the semiconductor industry — must now grapple with a stark new reality. If America is no longer a nation of laws, if due process is conditional rather than guaranteed, then companies must reconsider the very foundations upon which they operate. For an industry that relies heavily on global talent, the implications are severe.
The semiconductor industry’s foreign-born workforce
Semiconductors power the modern world, and the U.S. semiconductor industry, while still a leader in innovation, is deeply dependent on a workforce that hails from across the globe. According to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology, approximately 40 percent of high-skilled semiconductor workers in the United States were born abroad. These professionals are responsible for designing cutting-edge chips, developing AI capabilities, and maintaining America’s technological edge. If due process protections are no longer a given, these workers — and future recruits — will think twice before committing their careers to a country that may decide at any moment that they no longer belong.
Tech talent is mobile. Other nations, particularly those with strong semiconductor ambitions like Taiwan, South Korea, and Germany, will see an opportunity to lure engineers and executives away from the U.S. with a simple promise: stability. When a country shows it is willing to disregard the rule of law for expedience or political gain, it loses credibility as a secure place to build a career, a company, or an industry, let alone a family.
Business risks
For corporate leaders, the concern is not just about talent but also about investment security. The semiconductor industry requires enormous capital investment — foundries cost billions to build, and R&D expenditures run into the tens of billions annually. Investors require predictability. If due process protections can be ignored for immigrants today, what stops the erosion of legal protections for corporate assets tomorrow? I’d already written about the erosion of trust caused by this administration’s actions. Now, will foreign investors still view America as a safe place to park capital when the government openly disregards court rulings?
Moreover, supply chains — already strained by geopolitical tensions — require stability. The CHIPS Act, which aimed to revitalize domestic semiconductor manufacturing. It had assumed that America was a reliable and fair player in the global economy. Now, international partners see the U.S. as an erratic and hostile environment.
What industry leaders must do
In the face of this new reality, semiconductor executives and other business leaders must act decisively. Here’s what they can do:
- Advocate for Legal Stability – Business leaders must demand a recommitment to the rule of law from policymakers. Stability, justice, and honestly are not political preferences; They are economic necessities. Trade associations and individual executives must publicly denounce actions that undermine due process and push for clear legal protections for all workers, regardless of nationality.
- Strengthen Global Talent Pipelines – Companies should redouble efforts to maintain a diversified and resilient talent pool. Today, it appears to mean expanding operations in more legally stable countries, partnering with universities abroad, and creating mobility pathways that reduce reliance on a single government’s policies.
- Protect Employees – Companies must safeguard their foreign-born workforce. That includes providing legal resources, supporting visa and residency applications, and establishing emergency response protocols for employees who may be at risk.
- Diversify Investment Strategy – Given the increasing uncertainty, companies should evaluate whether their investments are overly concentrated in the U.S. The semiconductor industry is already global; spreading R&D and manufacturing across multiple jurisdictions may be a prudent way to hedge against political risk.
- Align with Like-Minded Companies – No single company can fight these challenges alone. Industry-wide coalitions must pressure the government into maintaining a business-friendly legal environment. The semiconductor industry has leverage — it is critical to national security and economic stability — and now is the time to use it.
The Road Ahead
Truth, Justice, and the American Way once defined a nation that, while imperfect, strove to be a beacon of fairness and opportunity. Ronald Reagan called it the “Shining city upon a hill.” That city lies in ruin. The loss of that ideal is not merely a philosophical tragedy; it is an existential crisis for industries that rely on legal predictability, global talent, and investment confidence.
Failure to respond to this moment will have dire consequences for the semiconductor industry — and the broader business community — not to mention our children and grandchildren. Other countries are watching, waiting to capitalize on America’s self-inflicted wounds. The question now is whether industry leaders will passively mourn this loss or take action to prevent further damage. The time for eulogies is over. It is time to fight for the future.
I’m really not hungry, at the moment, but we all need to eat to keep up our strength.
Chicken Milanese with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad, Adapted from Melissa Clark, NYTimes
A confession. While I love eating pan-fried breaded chicken cutlets – katsu, parmesian, schnitzel, cotoletta alla milanese, escalope, filete empanado, kotlet, řízek, or however you say it around the world – I hate making them. People who’ve seen the clutter and disorganization on my desk or in my workshop would never believe it, but making breaded cutlets, or breaded anything, really, means making a mess and getting the flour, panko or breadcrumbs, and eggs all over my hands (and often my clothes). So I rarely make them.
I know the rule. “One hand for wet and one hand for dry.” Following that rule appears to be impossible for me. So, as much as I love to eat it, I almost never make pan-fried, breaded anything. What contributed to my decision now? Stupidity.
A couple of days ago, I’d made salmon cakes (delicious, by the way, with both the homemade tartar sauce and especially with the Coconut Shrimp Dipping Sauce), which are pan-fried (but not breaded) and much less messy to prepare. Then, in a stroke of what I thought at the time was genius, I figured I’d reuse the oil I’d used to pan-fry the salmon cakes to pan-fry the cutlets. I can almost hear 90 percent of people reading this saying, “You moron! The oil will smell like fish.” Of course, I hadn’t sniffed it until just before I was ready to cook the chicken and it did (smell like fish).
The good news? Once I’d cleaned the skillet (not to mention the countertops and kitchen floor) and replaced the oil, this was really delicious and worth its 5-star rating. It was probably even worth the mess. I’d make it again, if I could ever get that “one hand for wet and one hand for dry” thing down.
Chicken Milanese with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad
Time: 60 minutes + 30 minutes while the breaded chicken cutlets chill
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
- 1½ pounds chicken cutlets, pounded ¼-inch thick
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed
- ⅔ cup plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅔ cup basil leaves
- 1 fat garlic clove, finely grated or minced
- 1 pound cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into ½-inch pieces
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1¼ cups panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Preparation:
- However you find it convenient to do it, pound chicken breasts to about ¼-inch thick. Lightly season chicken cutlets all over with salt and pepper; let rest while you make the basil oil.
- In a blender or food processor, combine ⅔ cup oil, basil, garlic and salt to taste; purée until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, toss tomatoes and mozzarella with about half of the basil oil and salt to taste. Taste tomato-mozzarella salad and add more salt and-or basil oil if needed. Set aside.
- Place flour in a shallow bowl or plate. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Pour eggs into a second shallow dish. Season lightly with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Put panko and Parmesan and a little salt and pepper into a third dish and mix to combine.
- With “dry hand,” dip a chicken cutlet in flour, shake off excess, then use dry hand to place the floured cutlet into the eggs. Use “wet hand” to flip the cutlet to coat the other side. Then use wet hand to remove the cutlet from the egg and shake off excess. Then, with wet hand, place chicken in panko mixture and use dry hand to cover top of cutlet with panko/parm. Use dry hand to transfer breaded cutlet to a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cutlets. When finished, refrigerate chicken for 30-120 minutes to help the breading adhere.
- In a large skillet, melt butter and remaining ¼ cup of oil over medium heat. When oil is hot, fry 2 cutlets at a time until bottoms are golden, about 3 minutes. Flip and fry until golden and crispy all over, about another 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle immediately with salt.
- Serve cutlets topped with a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of remaining basil oil and tomato-mozzarella salad.
Enjoy!
Copyright permission/reprint service of a full Ojo-Yoshida Report story is available for promotional use on your website, marketing materials and social media promotions. Please send us an email at [email protected] for details.