What Harm Does Organized Crime...?

Question

What kind of problems, direct and indirect, does organize crime cause for the average law abiding citizen?

I understand the vagueness of this question but please elaborate. I am trying to get an understanding of what kind of problems (particularly ones puting life and limb at risk) a person would be experiencing living in a city with a good mix of organized crime activity.

Answer 1

What one considers crime? The harm? As any activity the level of tolerance for realities that some consider one way or the other as part and fact of formal and informal economy. In a world where forces exist that involve the individuals in a way that social reality offers no alternative solucion except that the wheels must be kept rolling and when one factor organized or not means the functioning of that machinery which satisfies us all in some way whether it be a brother or uncle or friend or just someone we know involved. Where there is no real solution as easily and readily available as is just to make any kind of deal as long as it works. That sounds like organized government to me.

Answer 2

TAC has some good points. However, the average citizen won't even notice if organized crime is active in their vicinity. The fact is, organized crime has existed throughout the history of most every civilization. They knew how to "get things done". The downside of the government's war on organized crime (meaning "The Mob") is the power vacuum it left, which has been filled up with savage street gangs. The Mob didn't go around indiscriminately shooting people, like street gangs do. They were a lot more low profile. They also kept the peace. You didn't dare cause trouble in their neighborhoods. Given the choice, I'd rather live in a "Mob" neighborhood than one brimming with gang-bangers.

Answer 3

Organized crime deals a lot in prostitution, crime, illegal gambling, loan sharking. They put thugs on the street to take advantage of ordinary citizens.

They try to subvert the legal system with bribes and threats.

They are very territorial. For example, here in Nevada an ordinary citizen was raising lobsters. The mob had all the lobsters destroyed (via corrupt cops/judges/legal system).

They run the docks, the fisheries, transportation, convention centers (labor unions) and much much more.

Not to mention what you already know about what they did during prohibition (St. Valentine's Day massacre).

You stand no chance on your own with these arrogant criminal mobsters that will steal,threaten, kill, and cripple.

Answer 4

Only when those that uphold the law are corruppted does harm come in to play for the common citizen. Criminal activity occurs betwwen parties organized to defraud others to gain possesion of money and material, avoid taxes by subversion and illicit accounting. The avg citizen may feel the effects in quality of life and sense of security. I would say the avg cit would find services not offered by a legit business with registered principles to be suspect. U get what U pay for. The one biggy though is gambling...choice for chance. U pick.

Answer 5

Organized crime is characterized by a few basic qualities including durability over time, diversified interests, hierarchical structure, capital accumulation, reinvestment, access to political protection and the use of violence to protect interests.

Answer 6

The real problem I see with organised crime would be a certain group of people having unchecked power. In our society we people have legal power there are balances in place to make sure they don't abuse it, but when criminals have the power then they can use it however they damn well please. If they want you to die they just have to kill you. If they want "taxes" from you they can just beat you until you pay them. You didn't elect them or condone them, but they have the power anyway.