God Father Movie Question for the Brain Trust...

[SteyrAUG]

So there was always some risk with Cuba, but every day that Michael was there the risk seemed to grow, by the time he was hesitant to invest, the odds were likely 60/40 for the Revolutionaries. Roth had to know the odds and I think he was padding his losses by trying to sell shares in a Havana Deal that would likely as not, not exist in the upcomming years.
I think Roth knew Cuba was a hiogh risk investment and he wanted out, he wanted some sort of guarentee, like Las Vegas.
I think Roth was going to take the money of his "Investors" and buy back in to Las Vegas as the Corleone's had essentially pushed him out by that time. All that money that was a lost that would have significantly weakened the Corleone's.
No you are right, it was personal to Hyman Roth and I don't think he would have stopped until he killed Michael. Killing him as he stepped off the plane was a sure sign to everyone else, don't "F" with Michael Corleone.

All those things were factors, but for everyone in the film, once you make a move to kill someone, you better see it through because eventually they will figure it out and come for you. In these films a central theme is everyone is trying to kill everyone, even those they consider friends, because in organized crime you don't actually have friends. At the end of the day it's all business.

[flenna]

All those things were factors, but for everyone in the film, once you make a move to kill someone, you better see it through because eventually they will figure it out and come for you. In these films a central theme is everyone is trying to kill everyone, even those they consider friends, because in organized crime you don't actually have friends. At the end of the day it's all business.

I’ve read several true-crime books on the mafia and this is definitely true. It is unreal how easily they killed each other over slight infractions or just to get ahead, even among “friends” and guys that grew up together.

[SteyrAUG]

I’ve read several true-crime books on the mafia and this is definitely true. It is unreal how easily they killed each other over slight infractions or just to get ahead, even among “friends” and guys that grew up together.

Organized crime is a cult with cult rules built in. You follow ALL orders, especially the ones you don't agree with. Once "killing your buddies" becomes standard practice all options are open. Only in the movies will you find people in the mafia who aren't willing to sell drugs to children, murder innocent people and things like that. If you make it into upper levels of organized crime, at that point you've already done more reprehensible shit than most people can understand that there is no reason you wouldn't kill anyone for any reason. And if you try and maintain some kind of moral compass, everyone else will see it as weakness and you won't last a month because people will line up to take your spot.

[flenna]

Organized crime is a cult with cult rules built in. You follow ALL orders, especially the ones you don't agree with. Once "killing your buddies" becomes standard practice all options are open. Only in the movies will you find people in the mafia who aren't willing to sell drugs to children, murder innocent people and things like that. If you make it into upper levels of organized crime, at that point you've already done more reprehensible shit than most people can understand that there is no reason you wouldn't kill anyone for any reason. And if you try and maintain some kind of moral compass, everyone else will see it as weakness and you won't last a month because people will line up to take your spot.

My father grew up in Brooklyn and it was well known the mafia ran the neighborhoods. Interestingly enough he said the neighborhoods were never safer than when the mob ran them. No one messed with old people or kids, your Mom could walk down the block at midnight and feel safe. All the violence was mafioso on mafioso and gang on gang. Anyone messing with a kid or elderly person was found in a dumpster the next day.

[SteyrAUG]

My father grew up in Brooklyn and it was well known the mafia ran the neighborhoods. Interestingly enough he said the neighborhoods were never safer than when the mob ran them. No one messed with old people or kids, your Mom could walk down the block at midnight and feel safe. All the violence was mafioso on mafioso and gang on gang. Anyone messing with a kid or elderly person was found in a dumpster the next day.

I know what you refer to, at the same time if those old folks owned a business and couldn't come up with protection money, they might end up in the dumpster. The mafia does understand PR and certainly doesn't tolerate a lot of competition from "other" criminals and the create the misconception that they protect their own neighborhoods.

And typically they are deep enough into every level of local crime that they don't personally come after the locals who live there and they often depend upon them as a form of intelligence network. But if somebody kills grandma for her collection of antique silver dollars or some drug addict kills somebody else for drug money, at the end of the day part of that score of silver coins got kicked up to somebody and the local mafia got a piece of the proceeds from every drug sale in the area.

Factor in that in many areas the cops are paid off and to the untrained eye it might "look" like the mafia is some kind of neighborhood watch when needed.

[flenna]

I know what you refer to, at the same time if those old folks owned a business and couldn't come up with protection money, they might end up in the dumpster. The mafia does understand PR and certainly doesn't tolerate a lot of competition from "other" criminals and the create the misconception that they protect their own neighborhoods.

And typically they are deep enough into every level of local crime that they don't personally come after the locals who live there and they often depend upon them as a form of intelligence network. But if somebody kills grandma for her collection of antique silver dollars or some drug addict kills somebody else for drug money, at the end of the day part of that score of silver coins got kicked up to somebody and the local mafia got a piece of the proceeds from every drug sale in the area.

Factor in that in many areas the cops are paid off and to the untrained eye it might "look" like the mafia is some kind of neighborhood watch when needed.

Really that is what it boiled down to- they didn’t want any competition in their AO. Only they could extort the local businesses and outside crime would be bad for their business. Same thing in Vegas when the mob ran it- the average Joes visiting thought it was the safest place around so they would hang around and lose their money. The locals and business owners knew what would happen to them if they got out of line, though.

[flenna]

Double tap…

[Averageman]

Well according to legend these guys started off as "Robin Hood" like figures keeping the "Robber Barrons" in check. Pretty interesting to look in to anyway.

In America the story they would like to tell is they kept the neighborhoods safe and regulated commerce both in and out, making money for everyone.

Then the vice's began to take hold and again that was regulated and away from local homes and businesses.

Pretty much, the Avergeman could mind his business and not become involved in any of it and never have an issue.
I got a story or two of my Families involvement in construstion and trade unions in Chicago.