A recently seen cartoon (no doubt reposted):

This is “funny” of course, but at the same time it is an astute observation.

First, government, like crime syndicates, uses force and the threat of force to get people to do their bidding.

Second, in many ways, both entities are nothing more than parasites. Both promise “protection” of you, your family, your business, and your property. But much of what these organizations do for your “protection money” (taxes and fees) is not threaten or steal or destroy your property. Doubt this? Put up a statue or let your grass grow too high on your front yard and watch what local government code enforcement does.

Third, while government pretends to order its affairs and appoint its leaders in accordance with the will of the people (that is, democratically), this is only lip service. Like the Mafia, government is run by those with power – especially the power to count the votes in the case of “democratic elections.” Theoretically, most modern “democratic” governments claim to make decisions by a legislative process. Similarly, the typical crime mob is run by a council of “godfathers” or “capos” (to use the traditional Italian Mafia terms). In reality, most governmental decisions are delegated (or abdicated) down to bureaucrats and jack-booted thugs. Just as the Mafia capos and enforcers act by the power of their syndicates or councils but decide when, where, and how to do that enforcement of the syndicate’s “laws.” Up to and including the use of deadly force and capital punishment. Just like government.

Of course, it can be argued that in some ways, crime syndicates are better in their actions, their behavior, than government.

Consider the numbers games, the equivalent of government-run lotto and other gambling systems. Governments make no bones about the fact that they skim off a very large percentage of the money bet. Their justification is that this supports education or mental health care or other “good causes.” But if a private business made such outrageous profits on a service, they would be condemned strongly. And no doubt laws would be passed to keep this from happening. (Windfall taxes, anyone?) But the Mafia seems to pay out a significantly higher percentage of the money gambled. Oh, and assuming the punters can get away with “tax evasion,” the Mafia payouts are not gutted by massive income taxes the way the legitimized gambling on lotto or whatever is.

Consider also that the various organized crime gangs (at least those that are not insane bloodthirsty, “third-world” monsters) do really provide the protection they offer: On the other hand, government agencies hide behind court decisions and laws that excuse a failure to prevent crime and damage. And it seems that the Mafia is sometimes able to protect its “clients” even from the excesses of government and law enforcement. Something courts and other government entities often do not even try to do.

Based on experiences related to organized crime in northeastern American cities (albeit 50 years ago), in many places Mafia are able to provide (directly or indirectly) better services than the supposedly-legitimate but corrupt governments. Indeed, some report that services such as trash collection and maintenance of streets and enforcement of loading zones is much better when the Mob runs those things.

Not only that, but there seems to be some credence in the idea that the Mob provides ordinary people the services that they want, whereas government is often dedicated to keeping people from getting or buying what they want from whom they want. This, by some, is called government-enforced morality. But the Mafia supports freedom of choice.

And of course, generally, if you try reasonably hard, you don’t actually have to deal with the Mafia: you can move out of their actual territory. You can’t do that with government.

Which leads us to this final, and probably well-known cartoon: