The Mafia, yes, the mafia. Those shady crime families that won't think twice about stabbing you in the back. We almost never hear about them in the news any more, but this poll should confirm wheher or not they're still in action.

This is serious. It's a question that's been burning in the back of my head.

[ 02-12-2004, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: The Whackmiester ]

I think they still exist, but I'd guess most of their money comes from legal sources now. I grew up with Italian neighbors, and over the years one of their sons let slip enough hints to convince me. Example: one time he said his father had some business partners visiting from New Jersey, and they came down to purchase several parcels of land in a nearby town to build restaurants. A few months later, there was a story on one of the TV news programs that Mafia families were investing in restaurants in that town. I heard "coincidences" like that all the time, enough to convince me anyway...

which mafia? are we talking the italian mafia, the russian mafia?
and I think they're still out and about, they've just become more sneaky.

They're around, stronger than they ever were before.

The mafia is growing once more in Italy. Italians have Berlusconi to thank for that.

The Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) is apparently losing a lot of power in Japan.

'Apparently?' Is there any specific case that you know of?

The Mafia is still very much alive. The question "have you ever seen Mafia in action?" seems kind of weird to me becuase you can`t really who is a mobster and who is not. Italy has Silvio Berlusconi and Andreotti.

Also in Russia now that Ivan Ribkin is back... Russian Mafia caught him and had a little chat with him. Now he`s scared and he suddenly wants to quit in politics. OK maybe there is another reason but IMO it is pretty obvious.

I read an article not too long ago about how the Yakuza is not the powerful organisation anymore that it was in the early '90's. I'll try and search for the article (although it was probably a Dutch article) so I can back up my statement.

Yeah, the mafia's still around, and when mama says eat, you eat.

I've been told that Prodi also has a number of 'shady contacts'. :(

I've been told that Prodi also has a number of 'shady contacts'. :( </font>[/QUOTE]It wouldn`t surpirse me too much, truth to be told. My firend was once on Sicily and he asked if there is still Mafia... the people who live there were silent and/or were just laughing to him. Something like: "Gee what to do you think smart mouth?"

In Chicago we have a current issue going on with waste haulers. In another story, several of the "independent contractor" trucking companies hired by the city tend to spend a lot of time sitting parked while collecting money. And, we've had bribes scandals in trucking recently.

However, I worked for an Italian law firm (representing scrap yards and such) and attended several italian lawyer events ("Justinian Society") and never saw a hint of it. I mean, the guys looked like Tony Soprano and said "fook" and "fookin" a lot, but I saw nothing other than that.

I'm sure they're around in one way or another. Cities always teem with evil and decay, don't they? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Let's give them a good shake and see what falls out!!!

My dad was on a website run by the russian(I belive) mafia. I recon they're still around.

Yea-yeah. I think I see it now.

www.dontmesswiththerussianmob.com :

"Hello! You've reached the official Russian mafia site! If you have any questions, look at our FAQ."

:D

Muahahahahahaaaa!!!!!!
Beware the Canadian Mafia, lest we send you to sleep with the beavers!!!!

:D

[ 02-14-2004, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: spydar ]

Better with the beavers then the fishes. :D

I think the Mafia will always exist. It's just not possible to wipe out every one with evil thoughts.