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The Responsibility Revolution

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The Responsibility Revolution Amid the decline of house prices, the government seizure of the infamous mortgage brokers Fannie and Freddie, increasing debt to countries such as China, and the recent budget cuts to the country's military spending, the stability of the American economy seems more than a little rocky. Consequently, the addition of numerous corporate scandals has left the American people's trust in their businesses and government officials on shaky grounds. The tainted view of the American business world is the product of corporations' greedy endeavors, more willing to do anything "for profit", than following the ancient 'for-consumer' mantra "the customer is always right". As our economy crumbles and people's confidences wane, surprisingly, some companies have survived through the deterioration of our economy, some have even managed to grow throughout the recession. Jefferey Hollender and Bill Breen, authors of The Responsibility Revolution, believe these companies have thrived because they have a different standard set for themselves. The standard of responsible contribution to society and the environment. Hollender and Breen believe that this standard is starting to revolutionize the business world by prioritizing integrity into their value system. Being responsible demands companies to do the right thing, doing the right thing starts with "Integrity". The lack of integrity that runs from the government through our businesses has resulted in a system that is no longer stable and predictable. Consequently, the businesses that show heart in what they aim to do, whether it is to become more financially, socially or environmentally sustainable, have opened consumers' eyes to businesses they should trust. Robert Moment the writer of "The 7 Principles of Business Integrity" stated that businesses need to "Recognize that customers/clients want to do