Today it is worth being a member of the mafia?

[Strax]

This organization has been around for over 150 years and has/had branches on 4 continents. Imo if you're already a criminal of course it pays to be a member of the Mafia, the connections gained alone are worth it.

Exactly , being alone on the streets ,you won't survive for long. Its always better to be in a group.

[FriendofFamily]

In Chicago, they stand to profit from gambling - they own all the legitimate gaming companies. I think there are plenty of opportunities to run a legitimate business and stay involved in the rackets - and probably many we haven't heard of and stay below the radar. That being said, its not the gravy train it used to be and in 2019, probably better opportunities in the fax machine industry....

I like the reference to the fax machine industry - now that's funny

[aleksandrored]

So has LCN become more of the past? Can an Italian-American criminal make more money without the mafia's influence?

Hypothetically speaking, an Italian-American criminal risk having to give portion of his profits away to a Mafia connected guy. Or he´ll get harassed, threatened or chased away. Would he want that? Nowadays though, there are no big Italian-Americans who work seperatly from the Mafia. Back in the day, if they were young and showed potential, most of them would end up with the Mafia, either as made or associates.

Tell me something alex, Palmeiras, Santos or Corinthians?

Corinthians , you are brazilian too?

[HairyKnuckles]

So has LCN become more of the past? Can an Italian-American criminal make more money without the mafia's influence?

Hypothetically speaking, an Italian-American criminal risk having to give portion of his profits away to a Mafia connected guy. Or he´ll get harassed, threatened or chased away. Would he want that? Nowadays though, there are no big Italian-Americans who work seperatly from the Mafia. Back in the day, if they were young and showed potential, most of them would end up with the Mafia, either as made or associates.

Tell me something alex, Palmeiras, Santos or Corinthians?

Corinthians , you are brazilian too?

No. I wish.... You got some really nice looking women in Brazil!

[cavita]

In Chicago, they stand to profit from gambling - they own all the legitimate gaming companies.

Such as?

Knew you'd jump on that one quickly.

[Wiseguy]

In Chicago, they stand to profit from gambling - they own all the legitimate gaming companies.

Such as?

Knew you'd jump on that one quickly.

As anyone should. While I'm sceptical, as you might imagine, it's a genuine question.

[aleksandrored]

So has LCN become more of the past? Can an Italian-American criminal make more money without the mafia's influence?

Hypothetically speaking, an Italian-American criminal risk having to give portion of his profits away to a Mafia connected guy. Or he´ll get harassed, threatened or chased away. Would he want that? Nowadays though, there are no big Italian-Americans who work seperatly from the Mafia. Back in the day, if they were young and showed potential, most of them would end up with the Mafia, either as made or associates.

Tell me something alex, Palmeiras, Santos or Corinthians?

Corinthians , you are brazilian too?

No. I wish.... You got some really nice looking women in Brazil!

yes, here we have many beautiful women

[Bruno187]

If you have the smarts and motivation to do what is necessary to be a made guy today, there is no reason you can't go out and be a tremendously successful legitimate guy/entrepreneur WITHOUT having to worry about kicking up to anybody, WITHOUT having to worry about getting whacked or having your operation pulled out from under you and handed to somebody else, or having to take a pinch and go away to do time IMHO.

Cosa Nostra was a way for disenfranchised immigrants to "make it" into a society that would not have them. That's not really necessary anymore.
It's also why the talent pool for potential hoodlums has dried up....the smart guys go legit and make it that way, while mostly the mooks are left to join the ranks.

[Wiseguy]

If you have the smarts and motivation to do what is necessary to be a made guy today, there is no reason you can't go out and be a tremendously successful legitimate guy/entrepreneur WITHOUT having to worry about kicking up to anybody, WITHOUT having to worry about getting whacked or having your operation pulled out from under you and handed to somebody else, or having to take a pinch and go away to do time IMHO.

Cosa Nostra was a way for disenfranchised immigrants to "make it" into a society that would not have them. That's not really necessary anymore.
It's also why the talent pool for potential hoodlums has dried up....the smart guys go legit and make it that way, while mostly the mooks are left to join the ranks.

Yep. Hence, the decline of quantity AND quality.

[Bruno187]

Exactly.

[Amershire_Ed]

If you have the smarts and motivation to do what is necessary to be a made guy today, there is no reason you can't go out and be a tremendously successful legitimate guy/entrepreneur WITHOUT having to worry about kicking up to anybody, WITHOUT having to worry about getting whacked or having your operation pulled out from under you and handed to somebody else, or having to take a pinch and go away to do time IMHO.

Cosa Nostra was a way for disenfranchised immigrants to "make it" into a society that would not have them. That's not really necessary anymore.
It's also why the talent pool for potential hoodlums has dried up....the smart guys go legit and make it that way, while mostly the mooks are left to join the ranks.

Yep. Hence, the decline of quantity AND quality.

On top of everything mentioned above, most crime is much more difficult to get away with in 2019. Even with the reduction in the number of Feds dedicated to investigating OC, the technology at their disposal more than makes up for it. Add in the fact that we live in a pseudo-surveillance state, you’d have to be one clever SOB to stay off the radar.

He wasn’t involved in OC, but look how quickly they caught the nut that killed Frank Cali. Every house in that neighborhood has some form of security camera and it took the cops like 2 days to find this guy. If this dude had done the exact same thing to Paul Castellano in 1982, it would’ve been a much more difficult investigation.

[maxiestern11]

If you have the smarts and motivation to do what is necessary to be a made guy today, there is no reason you can't go out and be a tremendously successful legitimate guy/entrepreneur WITHOUT having to worry about kicking up to anybody, WITHOUT having to worry about getting whacked or having your operation pulled out from under you and handed to somebody else, or having to take a pinch and go away to do time IMHO.

Cosa Nostra was a way for disenfranchised immigrants to "make it" into a society that would not have them. That's not really necessary anymore.
It's also why the talent pool for potential hoodlums has dried up....the smart guys go legit and make it that way, while mostly the mooks are left to join the ranks.

Yep. Hence, the decline of quantity AND quality.

On top of everything mentioned above, most crime is much more difficult to get away with in 2019. Even with the reduction in the number of Feds dedicated to investigating OC, the technology at their disposal more than makes up for it. Add in the fact that we live in a pseudo-surveillance state, you’d have to be one clever SOB to stay off the radar.

He wasn’t involved in OC, but look how quickly they caught the nut that killed Frank Cali. Every house in that neighborhood has some form of security camera and it took the cops like 2 days to find this guy. If this dude had done the exact same thing to Paul Castellano in 1982, it would’ve been a much more difficult investigation.

Very true

[Confederate]

In Chicago, they stand to profit from gambling - they own all the legitimate gaming companies.

Such as?

Knew you'd jump on that one quickly.

As anyone should. While I'm sceptical, as you might imagine, it's a genuine question.

Another gross exaggeration in order to keep the dying Outfit which already has one foot in the grave alive. They own ALL the legitimate gaming Companies in Chicago. Yeah, okay.

[scagghiuni]

i dont know in the states but in italy yes they dominate everythings from prison to illegal stuff to political connections

[CabriniGreen]

In Chicago, they stand to profit from gambling - they own all the legitimate gaming companies.

Such as?

Knew you'd jump on that one quickly.

As anyone should. While I'm sceptical, as you might imagine, it's a genuine question.

I'm not so sure it's all Outfit.... I posted awhile ago about sweepstakes machines...

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/8/8/2 ... rg-bad-bet

I thought this story was pretty interesting... I think it was Sundays front page......