Post by ~Wizeguy~ on Oct 10, 2003 20:31:19 GMT -5
Over the past 15 years or so, turncoats have been the strongest arm for the governments fight against organized crime. Although this concerns all Organized Crime syndicates, it does none more then La Cosa Nostra. La Cosa Nostra, started as a secret organization for the Italian/Americans (hence it’s called “Our Thing”), it lived in the shadows, thought to be a myth. There presents was felt, but not identified. Until a turncoat changed all this…his name, Joe Valachi (read “The Valachi Papers). From that day on, the mafia had become “Touchable”. Turncoats, although not common, were appearing across the country. Turncoats, a.k.a Rats (named rats, because their so low and dirty they will eat their own faeces) were the worst thing that one could ever be in La Cosa Nostra, not only was it disrespectful, it was against the vows of a made guy. Breaking Omerta was punished by death. However, the formation of RICO, and the witness protection program (witched proved to be very successful) meant turncoats could rat out, serve less time, and live a safer life (often going the same path, but serving as their own boss. As seen by Sammy “The Bull”).
Blow after blow, from Joe Pistone (the infamous mafia penetration) to Sammy. La Cosa Nostra was down, and now it seems to be practically out. Today, you would be lucky to hear a different headline then “Mob Turncoat” in a mafia report. Just go onto Google and search for “mafia turncoat” , there is a guarantee of multiple pages. The old vows seem to be worthless, I ask you, is this because the threat and muscle of the mob is too weak to get back at or scare the turning of a made guy? Or is it because LCN just got sloppy?
What one must understand is, a lot of things happen amongst an LCN family that people don’t hear about. Maybe it is a form of propaganda by the government, to tell Mafiosi that you will be dealt severely if your court in your crimes, but if you turn, you will see new horizons.
In recent reports, one can come to the conclusion that LCN is living in the breath of it’s former self, and no longer has the muscle and contacts it once did. Maybe it has plans that none of us know about, maybe it doesn’t. They lived in the shadows for many years, it seems they are returning to it, possibly to regain strength and power. Meanwhile, other organizations, who treat turncoats much more severely, are prospering in LCN’s demise. Not to say that LCN aren’t still running most of the rackets, it must be noted that a lot of OC families, such as some of the Long Beach Russians, have been known to pay LCN mafia tax in recent years. However, what is meant by demise of LCN is the referral to their respect for the vows they take, and the comparison to their former glory. Once you are all the way up the top of a ladder, there is only one way to go! Down!
Nonetheless, in Sicilia, Cosa Nuova (the new business), Sicily’s mafia, had also taken major blows, turncoats have played a major role in this, but not to the same point as the Italian/American syndicate. The difference? The reaction and place. Sicily is a much different place then America, their government in one hand is fighting the mob, and in the other, is being paid by them. Also the realization, the mob has to go for a new direction…the direction of knowledge. Sicilian mobsters are being raised in universities, to beat the charges, they have to know the charges. Provenzano is playing a major role in this movement (see wizeguy.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=mafia&action=display&thread=1065625432). By doing so, they have found a way to regain its elusiveness and make contacts rather then enemies.
“Dino Paternostro, a Corleone native who has written several books on the Mafia, said Provenzano has succeeded in returning the Mafia to a state of normalization: "Now we come to the point where people start saying the Mafia isn't really a problem — or doesn't even exist." Just down the block, 76-year-old retired railroad worker Mario Governari says just that. "No, no!," he exclaims, waving off the question with his hand. "There's no Mafia in Corleone any more.”
I suppose Provenzano has adopted a Muhammad Ali view on his direction…”Your hands can’t hit, what your eyes can’t see”. If LCN has returned to the shadows, to do the same thing, and approach the modern world in a modern viewpoint. Then who knows what the future holds.
I would like to hear peoples opinions on what I have just said, or even debate about it.
Ciao
~Wize~
Blow after blow, from Joe Pistone (the infamous mafia penetration) to Sammy. La Cosa Nostra was down, and now it seems to be practically out. Today, you would be lucky to hear a different headline then “Mob Turncoat” in a mafia report. Just go onto Google and search for “mafia turncoat” , there is a guarantee of multiple pages. The old vows seem to be worthless, I ask you, is this because the threat and muscle of the mob is too weak to get back at or scare the turning of a made guy? Or is it because LCN just got sloppy?
What one must understand is, a lot of things happen amongst an LCN family that people don’t hear about. Maybe it is a form of propaganda by the government, to tell Mafiosi that you will be dealt severely if your court in your crimes, but if you turn, you will see new horizons.
In recent reports, one can come to the conclusion that LCN is living in the breath of it’s former self, and no longer has the muscle and contacts it once did. Maybe it has plans that none of us know about, maybe it doesn’t. They lived in the shadows for many years, it seems they are returning to it, possibly to regain strength and power. Meanwhile, other organizations, who treat turncoats much more severely, are prospering in LCN’s demise. Not to say that LCN aren’t still running most of the rackets, it must be noted that a lot of OC families, such as some of the Long Beach Russians, have been known to pay LCN mafia tax in recent years. However, what is meant by demise of LCN is the referral to their respect for the vows they take, and the comparison to their former glory. Once you are all the way up the top of a ladder, there is only one way to go! Down!
Nonetheless, in Sicilia, Cosa Nuova (the new business), Sicily’s mafia, had also taken major blows, turncoats have played a major role in this, but not to the same point as the Italian/American syndicate. The difference? The reaction and place. Sicily is a much different place then America, their government in one hand is fighting the mob, and in the other, is being paid by them. Also the realization, the mob has to go for a new direction…the direction of knowledge. Sicilian mobsters are being raised in universities, to beat the charges, they have to know the charges. Provenzano is playing a major role in this movement (see wizeguy.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=mafia&action=display&thread=1065625432). By doing so, they have found a way to regain its elusiveness and make contacts rather then enemies.
“Dino Paternostro, a Corleone native who has written several books on the Mafia, said Provenzano has succeeded in returning the Mafia to a state of normalization: "Now we come to the point where people start saying the Mafia isn't really a problem — or doesn't even exist." Just down the block, 76-year-old retired railroad worker Mario Governari says just that. "No, no!," he exclaims, waving off the question with his hand. "There's no Mafia in Corleone any more.”
I suppose Provenzano has adopted a Muhammad Ali view on his direction…”Your hands can’t hit, what your eyes can’t see”. If LCN has returned to the shadows, to do the same thing, and approach the modern world in a modern viewpoint. Then who knows what the future holds.
I would like to hear peoples opinions on what I have just said, or even debate about it.
Ciao
~Wize~
