Chapman
Donor
According to Wikipedia,
So with this pretty simple definition in mind, your challenge is to turn the United States into such a polity up to the present day with a POD/PODs anytime after 1900. It's not necessary for it to be just one organized criminal outfit controlling the country, in fact it'd probably be more interesting and more plausible if there was some sort of tenuous power sharing arrangement between multiple groups.
And while I recognize that many people feel our current political system is already deeply criminal (a feeling I don't disagree with), it's hard to argue that the United States of 2019 is controlled by a group like the Cosa Nostra, the Sinaloa Cartel of Mexico, or the Russian Bratva. I'm looking for a widespread, overt kind of cooperation between the United States government and criminal elements, to the extent that said elements play power broker in important elections, functions of government, and even military decisions.
Some likely candidates for consideration:
The term mafia state is a political buzzword to describe a state system where the government is tied with organized crime, including when government officials, police, and/or military take part in illicit enterprises.[1] The term mafia is a reference to any organized crime groups strongly connected with the authorities.
So with this pretty simple definition in mind, your challenge is to turn the United States into such a polity up to the present day with a POD/PODs anytime after 1900. It's not necessary for it to be just one organized criminal outfit controlling the country, in fact it'd probably be more interesting and more plausible if there was some sort of tenuous power sharing arrangement between multiple groups.
And while I recognize that many people feel our current political system is already deeply criminal (a feeling I don't disagree with), it's hard to argue that the United States of 2019 is controlled by a group like the Cosa Nostra, the Sinaloa Cartel of Mexico, or the Russian Bratva. I'm looking for a widespread, overt kind of cooperation between the United States government and criminal elements, to the extent that said elements play power broker in important elections, functions of government, and even military decisions.
Some likely candidates for consideration:
- The Italian American Mafia, otherwise known as the mob or La Cosa Nostra (Italian for "This thing of ours"), which rose to prominence during prohibition after establishing a virtual monopoly on the bootlegging of alcohol in many areas. While prone to counterproductive violence, the mob nonetheless became a powerful entity within the United States in the mid-to-late 20th century through their control of labor unions. They remained somewhat of an urban legend, and a danger largely ignored by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, until their activities came under close scrutiny following the Apalachin Meeting of 1957, and the McClellan Hearings in 1963. Since the 1970s, the mob has largely fallen from power after being dealt a serious blow by the RICO Act, developed to curb the power of criminal organizations.
- The Jewish Mafia, similar to their Italian counterparts in terms of origin and activities, largely focusing on racketeering, bootlegging, and narcotics. Never quite as romanticized as Cosa Nostra, but no less includes important figures such as Arnold Rothstein who shaped the nature of organized crime in the United States. Again, quoting from Wikipedia: "According to crime writer Leo Katcher, Rothstein 'transformed organized crime from a thuggish activity by hoodlums into a big business, run like a corporation, with himself at the top.' According to Rich Cohen, Rothstein was the person to see during prohibition (1920–1933) if one had an idea for a tremendous business opportunity, legal or not. Rothstein "understood the truths of early 20th century capitalism (hypocrisy, exclusion, greed) and came to dominate them". According to Cohen, Rothstein was the 'Moses of Jewish gangsters', a rich man's son, who showed the young and uneducated hoodlums of the Bowery how to have style. Lucky Luciano, who would become a prominent boss within the Italian-American Mafia and organize New York's Five Families, once claimed that Arnold Rothstein "taught me how to dress". The stereotypical attire of the American mobster portrayed in movies can partially trace its roots directly to Rothstein." Rothstein was noted for his involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series in his favor, and being among the first to realize the huge economic potential in prohibition.
- The Irish Mob, active in the United States since the 19th century but declined in relative significance following numerous internal wars as well as confrontations with their Italian rivals. Active in many of the same areas of crime, bootlegging, narcotics, intimidation, etc.
- The Hells Angels, the notorious motorcycle gang founded in 1948 and closely detailed in Hunter S. Thompson's first novel, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Their activities are fairly standard for any criminal outfit, including drug dealing, arms smuggling, extortion, and prostitution among others.
- The Aryan Brotherhood, the white prison gang and organized crime syndicate founded in 1964. Drug trafficking, extortion, murder-for-hire and inmate prostitution are among their many choice activities.
- The Crips and Bloods, founded in 1969 and 1972 respectively, the predominantly African American street gangs that have long been bitter rivals in their fight for control over the Californian criminal underworld. Particularly violent in their nature, both gangs frequently experience inter-organizational violence which continues to undercut their ability to operate effectively.
- The Black Mafia Family, founded in the late 1980s by the Flenory brothers of Detroit, Michigan. Primarily involved in drug trafficking and money laundering, the BMF established cocaine distribution networks throughout the country by utilizing Los Angeles-based connections to various Mexican drug cartels. In an attempt to legitimize themselves, leadership of the BMF established an entertainment company that sought to promote various hip hop groups. Although this group in particular, I think, is unlikely to amass the kind of power necessary to outright control the US, it'd make sense to see a powerful, black dominated organization form nonetheless.
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