I, Leonardo, Can't Take Credit for the "V.I.C.I" Code

The green curtain of money has a stranglehold on Washington, D.C.  We are witnessing the fall of an electoral system that promised its power to the people, for the people, and is reneging on that promise with each passing day.  The ruling elites in our country have become more like ruling oligarchs, using their personal connections and wealth to remain in power and continue to benefit from their rank.  They are not living by a code of honor and trust, or as we call it: the “V.I.C.I.” code.

“V.I.C.I.” is defined in Greedy Bastards as a code of living and conducting business.  It is defined as Visibility, Integrity, Choice, and Interests.  It is becoming increasingly clear that our ruling government officials and business elites do not conduct their business according to the guiding principles of the “V.I.C.I.” code.

As outlined in Greedy Bastards, it is imperative that we inject our institutions with a sense of the “V.I.C.I.” in order to bring back accountability, responsibility, and a focus on social progress and well-being.  America still maintains a position of great authority, wealth, and dynamism; this is not yet a time for concern about our viability as a nation.  But it is a time that we have to redeem ourselves at home and abroad in order to restore our Republic to the fullest of its potential.

Dylan Ratigan is quoted as saying that “we have taken the capital out of capitalism.  We have taken the individual responsibility and the individual opportunity to do this out of it.”  He is referencing what has become a total isolation from the rest of the world for the ruling business and political elites.  They have erected veritable fortresses around themselves that protect their interests but isolate them from ideas, innovations, and criticism that is essential to any dynamic economy.

The “V.I.C.I.” code is just a part of the Greedy Bastards call to change and growth, but until we all start to trust and believe in these core tenets then we cannot hope to change the corrosive culture of American politics and business.  To see the full discussion with Deepak Chopra and Arianna Huffington:

Dylan Ratigan is host of The Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC and author of Greedy Bastards.