This is something that Intrigues me
I have heard rumors of many different Mafia's throughout the world and alot of them are here in the States.

How does this affect us or the world?


I have heard of many different one's, from Russia and Jamaica and Japan and China ect.


This may be a taboo subject but it is interesting none the less and good for me to try to understand better!

I have heard two different opinions
It is strong and it is weak > The MOB

I would think that mafia's are just as prevelent as they were 20 years ago, actually probably more now!

WEBFISH

[RSM123]

Roughly two-thirds of Russia’s economy is under sway of crime syndicates, and protection rackets have been the norm since the collapse of communism..
According to Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the government agency in charge of combating organized crime, 40 percent of private business, 60 percent of state-owned enterprises and between 50 percent and 85 percent of banks are controlled by organized crime.
Some 8,000 crime gangs operate throughout the former Soviet republics. The 200 largest are now global conglomerates; 26 have established a presence in the 17 U.S. cities and have arrangements with American, Sicilian, and Colombian crime syndicates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...000/434691.stm

[Sarge]

I refuse to comment on this matter on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

[pyritechips]

"Mob" is a generic description. The word "Mafia" has also been borrowed to mean any well organized criminal entity. When I lived in Montreal we had was was called the Italian Mafia, then the Irish "Mafia", the Jewish "Mafia", and a few other groups based on ethnic or cultural ties and specific "turfs". Montreal is a large, tough city similar to New York and one piece of "Street Smarts" one is well advised to learn is which group controls what "turf".

It is said that criminal organizations are to be fought and hopefully eliminated not only for the obvious criminal activity but for the threat they pose to the general public. Through my own personal experience I have found this is almost entirely a carefully staged lie by the authorities to turn public sentiment against the groups in question. Criminal groups deal with people that seek out the "goods and services" that the groups offer. A crack user buys his drug. A "john" pays for a prostitute, a man down on his luck borrows from a loan shark. If a gang related "revenge killing" or similar violent act occurs the police and press are quick to sensationize it to garner public sympathy and breed fear. If the public reacts, demanding more protection and call out to "clean up the streets" then the purpose has been served. For the most part the general public has very little to fear from organized groups.

Interesting side note: just this week in the city of Edmonton a judge threw out the cases against approximately 36 Asian gang members due to lengthy delays. The trial was to be so large a new $20 million special courthouse was built for it. The courthouse now stands empty and unused.

[GoneForNow]

Originally posted by pyritechips:
It is said that criminal organizations are to be fought and hopefully eliminated not only for the obvious criminal activity but for the threat they pose to the general public. Through my own personal experience I have found this is almost entirely a carefully staged lie by the authorities to turn public sentiment against the groups in question. Criminal groups deal with people that seek out the "goods and services" that the groups offer. A crack user buys his drug. A "john" pays for a prostitute, a man down on his luck borrows from a loan shark. If a gang related "revenge killing" or similar violent act occurs the police and press are quick to sensationize it to garner public sympathy and breed fear. If the public reacts, demanding more protection and call out to "clean up the streets" then the purpose has been served. For the most part the general public has very little to fear from organized groups.

Am I understanding you to say that the drug pusher, the prostitute and the loan shark are dealing in victimless crimes?

What do you mean that for the most part the public has little to fear. Can you qualify that please. They only have to fear 10% of the time? At what point would the activities of the organized criminal group rise to a level that the public would have a right to fear? And who makes that determination? If the organized criminal group starts paying off the police to turn a blind eye to their victimless crimes should the public still lack concern? How about if it rises to the level of judges and prosecutors? If they start killing just each other and leaving the remains in the street, as they usually do to send a message, should the public reaction be non-interest as it doesn't involve the general public?

Thanks for the info. guys

Sarge in the MOB?? LMAO

Good one

[pyritechips]

What I mean is that the average citizen need not fear direct contact with criminal groups. For example, if I was a drug dealer I would not campaign to drum up business nor would I need to. The person using drugs, prostitutes or loan shark money actively seeks them out uncoerced. Nobody is forced into using the goods and services of criminals asn it would be a foolish criminal indeed that tried to force himself upon unwilling people. The only crime I can think of where the criminal forces himself upon the victim is in the protection racket.

Please note: I have never been involved in organized crime nor do I condone it. My above statements were made merely to ilustrate my own experiences.

[GoneForNow]

Originally posted by pyritechips:
What I mean is that the average citizen need not fear direct contact with criminal groups. For example, if I was a drug dealer I would not campaign to drum up business nor would I need to. The person using drugs, prostitutes or loan shark money actively seeks them out uncoerced. Nobody is forced into using the goods and services of criminals asn it would be a foolish criminal indeed that tried to force himself upon unwilling people. The only crime I can think of where the criminal forces himself upon the victim is in the protection racket.

I agree that the vast majority of the public never sees nor has contact with organized crime directly. However, the indirect impact on the general public is rather large would you not agree? Corruption of the law enforcement/judicial system. Corruption of the electoral process. Rehab services for the drug addicts they supply, health services for the hooker with AIDS who keeps working. Increased construction costs for union payoffs for public as well as private buildings. The list goes on and on.

PC I respectfully disagree, we have a great deal to fear with organized crime, much more so then the armed robber or burglar.

great points and I agree with you gbrumb!!

I think it does impact most societys!

Good points also Pyritechips!

[pyritechips]

I don't deny the deeper and more indirect influences of organized crime. I was speaking only of a personal, direct contact. When you walk down the street you will be mugged by the common, petty thief and when you fearfully bolt your doors at night and turn on your alarm system it is the individual, mostly amateurish thief you are protecting yourself against.

In my experiences in Montreal I could calmly and without fear walk into a Hells Angel controlled bar and Mafia controlled restaurant (which, by the way, served the most exquisite Veal Scallopini), I have much more to fear in this city full of trailer trash and rednecks.

LMAO

[GoneForNow]

Originally posted by pyritechips:
I don't deny the deeper and more indirect influences of organized crime. I was speaking only of a personal, direct contact. When you walk down the street you will be mugged by the common, petty thief and when you fearfully bolt your doors at night and turn on your alarm system it is the individual, mostly amateurish thief you are protecting yourself against.

In my experiences in Montreal I could calmly and without fear walk into a Hells Angel controlled bar and Mafia controlled restaurant (which, by the way, served the most exquisite Veal Scallopini), I have much more to fear in this city full of trailer trash and rednecks.

Well first things first. If you are eating in a Mafia owned/controlled bar you are now on file (photographically) with the Mounties and the FBI. Next time smile please.

Well there are organized crime groups in the worse ghettos in America and I don't feel safe walking down those streets. (Might have something to do with the color of my skin but thats a different topic.) So as I understand it you weren't hassled in mafia controlled bar or one controlled by the Hells Angels. I can believe that, first I've seen your picture you look like a Hells Angel (joking joking). I don't think you'd get hassled in bar whether it was Mafia owned or not. As far as rednecks and walking down the street IMO whether or not it was Mafia "turf" or not wouldn't make any difference as to whether you were at risk or not. If you did get mugged it could be the guy trying to get money to pay his Mafia drug dealer or loan shark. Thats the point, the Mafia fosters the street crime you are complaining of.

LA COSA NOSTRA

http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/lcn.htm