That's the main lesson to be taken from the whole thing, and it's valid.
I suppose it could be argued that it was all over once the omerta got broken, and that happened in the '70s, with Joe Valachi. At least in hindsight, it seems pretty clear that once Valachi got away with it, the door was open. Especially since a movie was made about it.
It kind of demonstrates that an organization like the families is kind of "brittle," in that it has a weak spot, and the weak spot is secrecy. As long as everyone knows that talking is an absolute death sentence, and as long as they can enforce that death sentence no matter what, it can keep going.
Of course, the lesson of the Casino story is that the infiltration of drugs into the families screwed up discipline, screwed up character and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. I guess that's also the lesson of Goodfellas as well... once they started to get high on their own supply, discipline and self-control went out the window, and the law was able to move in.
Which demonstrates the wisdom of the Vito Corleone character in The Godfather. He knew that drugs would bring the whole family system down. Not immediately, but eventually.
It's interesting that two great Italian directors - Scorsese and Coppola - basically wrote the history of the fall of the Mafia on the movie screen.
And that another Italian - Rudy Giuliani - was able to take advantage of the decay and deal a deadly blow, starting with the Fulton Fish Market, but expanding to Gotti and other aspects of the organization.
There were other problems too.
Nicky Scarfo in Philly was a bad boss, as I understand it. He let things get out of control, he was paranoid, he had people whacked for dumb reasons, he had even his best friends afraid that they would get whacked for nothing.
It's like the larger problems of American society in the post-WWII years got into the Mafia too, and undermined its structure.
They should have listened to the "no drugs" rule.
But if they did, the Families would have lost power to other crime organizations as pot, coke, and crack moved into society.
Showed that Vito Corleone was very wise to say 'No' to Sollozzo, then Sonny had to screw everything up.
Most gangsters are jerks. That’s why they choose to be gangsters.
Great post.
The Godfather was right though, in the end.
Used to be a lot of the old time mafioso died of old age at home. Drugs put an end to that.
RICO put an end to everything!!
The Italians of my father’s generation were brutally tough. The ones that became mobsters made a lot of money and brought up softer kids. Violent, but still softer.
It’s not so hard going from ghetto-like conditions to prison. But going from Very Upper Middle Class diggings to prison, major difference.
A bunch of dopes out here (Staten Island) got arrested selling macines guns and narcotics out of a barbershop. I was in it two weeks before it was busted. All Italian kids.
I bet they were rolling on each other quicker than you can blink an eye.
But the mafia still has more than enough power. None of the local Indian run delis are OWNED by the delis, perhaps on paper, but not in reality. Not the 7/11ss, the local delis.
The pizzerias, the major produce stores, etc., still washing money, I’m sure.
A lot of Italians were brought in from the old world and the Mafia is keepig its head low but still making money.
They’re down, but far from out, unfortunately.
And Scarfo was a PSYCHO!! Ruined AC for everybody.
But Gotti Jr. managed to get, what was it, four mistrials?
My friend represented him.
He said the govt has Unlimited funds to throw at a case and it’s almost impossible to beat them.
I met him a few times at a friend’s pizzeria.