why do organisations such as the mafia thrive, when everyone knows they cause nothing but misery?

Question

It's not all like goodfellas for all you tony montana/ michael corleone wannabes!

Answer 1

Fear, Many good people are afraid to speak out.

Acceptance, I recent discussion I have concluded that communities accept and even benefit from the Mafia.

Approval, having thought about several Mafia controlled communities it is clear that the other power structures, such as the law and church, that some communities approve. A historic example is the well documented support from Attorney General and the lack of obvious opposition from the R.C. Churches given on "Federal Hill" to the Rhode Island Based Patrichia crime family. These power structure must have approved.

Answer 2

The mafia is hardly "thriving" these days. The good old days for them started coming to an end decades ago. They still function well enough to some degree, but it's not what it use to be.

Want to talk about wannabes causing trouble? Look at street gangs. This is the thriving criminal element nowadays... and they have the most effective advertizing campaign to glorify what they do. Just turn on the radio or television. Corporations drool with dollar signs in their eyes for that kind of influence on culture.

Answer 3

It's all to do with economy. If the mafia were kicked out of any country where they have taken root, a lot would go wrong. Think about all the legit businesses they use as a front and the number of legit people in their employ and you will scratch the surface as to why it is not clear cut. It's one of them things the saying "the end justifies the means" perfectly explains. It is morally corrupt but economically viable. The same reason why guns, cigarettes etc will never be outlawed but will always be condemned.

Answer 4

Because they have money.

When the government tried to outlaw alcohol, the mafia provided alcohol and became extremely rich. Once some organization has that much money, it's almost impossible to get rid of them because they can bribe people, buy expensive lawyers, and/or simply threaten/hurt/kill people.

We're having the same problem with the war on drugs. You're not going to get rid of it. The demand is too high. If you legalized the recreational drugs, the available profits for the gangs would be minuscule.

Answer 5

Because greed and avarice tend to overrule good sense and morality in many cases, organizations such the 'mafia' and organized crime will continue to thrive.

Answer 6

Because they usually sell or offer stuff that people want and that are against the law.