The Cosa Nostra

You know, Ned, what I find interesting is that, despite the fact that no one disputes that the historical purpose of the Mafia was to defend Sicilians against oppression and exploitation, none of the posters other than myself seem to be willing to acknowledge that this function was transferable to the United States. Or, that it still applies to some degree in Italy, itself. This is very curious. Of course, the oppressors will never acknowledge that they are oppressing anyone. They are just "enforcing the law". Their law, of course! And, no doubt, even in their presumed role as defenders of native Sicilians, the Mafia exhibited, at times, the same brutality, exploitation and control of their "people", as the Mafia currently do with their own. Indeed, currently, the Mafia is depicted as pure evil by much of the Italian government, while having great respect, particularly in the South of Italy, and works hand in glove with the Vatican simultaneously with the Pope denouncing them! I think what we're dealing with, here, is simply the fact that human nature, and human behavior, are always selfish, and usually not very pleasant, at all. So, it's possible to both be defender, and exploiter, good, and bad, almost precisely at the same time. The real advantage of alternative governments is simply that -- additional options. They aren't perfect options, none are, but, they may be useful, and probably will be, at times, anyway. The media's portrayal of the American Cosa Nostra is indicative of this. It tends to be highly ambivalent. They are vicious, at times, but "very human". We can relate to them. We can use them. It's only in the government circles that directly compete with them for power, that they are thoroughly detested. No surprise there, is there. Of course, we can say that the Mafia does "bad things". Drugs, Prostitution, Gambling. So much worse than our great, American national institutions -- The Pharmaceutical Industry, The Marriage Business, and The Stock Market!!??!! As I say, they're just an alternative government that works like any other government -- money, brutality, control, exploitation.