We could think of the Mafia as "undocumented politicians".
We could think of the Mafia as “undocumented politicians”.
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At least the Mafia was up front and didn’t use your ‘tax’ money to hire new goons to harass you etc.
The ‘theory’ was pretty well explained when ‘Tony’ went into the Sporting Goods Business.
He became a ‘partner’ because the owner owed for GAMBLING debts, Tony was very clear that the guy put himself into the position, and everything was fine as long as you paid the ‘vig’ on time.
The longer you don’t pay, the more they bleed from the business till they have to shutter it and the ‘owner’ is left holding the bag while his ‘new partners’ move on to greener pastures.
Even at the ‘end’ when the dudes kid graduated from high school the guy appeared to be seeking sympathy from Tony because he not only lost his business, his home, his family because he blew the ‘college account’, Tony just smiled, shook his hand etc...and all but told him
“Sympathy is in the Dictionary between ‘$hiite and Syphilis”
Tony also had that ‘fatherly’ approach when he explained to his daughter (and wife on occasion) where all the ‘opulence’ came from and the gifts were part of it, the car being a business deal.
Of course Tony neglected to tell Meadow that the alternate to the SUV was a cap in the knee or worse, but ‘we’ must shield our children from certain negatives....
Now that is a line that I can use! Funny and with enough truth in it to sting a little!