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Re: Myth that scumbag wiseguys were "good businessmen"
[Re: alicecooper]
#888213
07/20/16 03:11 PM
07/20/16 03:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,710
BillyBrizzi
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Underboss
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,710
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I think the first generations of wiseguys born between 1900 and 1945 didn't have a lot of options to make a lot of money in the legitimate world or go to college to become a doctor, lawyer or whatever.
That's why I think the most intelligent gangsters came from that era i.e. Meyer Lansky, Moe Dalitz, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Carlo Gambino, Tony Accardo and Vincent Alo for example. I really think these men were very smart and could've been leaders in the upperworld, be it in business or politics. We all know that the mob must recruit from a different gene pool these days like George Anastasia puts it, because the most intelligent Italian-American boys these days go to college and want a legitimate profession. The descendants of Jewish gangsters chose that route a lot earlier.
FORTIS FORTUNA IUVAT
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Re: Myth that scumbag wiseguys were "good businessmen"
[Re: BillyBrizzi]
#888223
07/20/16 04:14 PM
07/20/16 04:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 865
MightyDR
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 865
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I think the first generations of wiseguys born between 1900 and 1945 didn't have a lot of options to make a lot of money in the legitimate world or go to college to become a doctor, lawyer or whatever.
That's why I think the most intelligent gangsters came from that era i.e. Meyer Lansky, Moe Dalitz, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Carlo Gambino, Tony Accardo and Vincent Alo for example. I really think these men were very smart and could've been leaders in the upperworld, be it in business or politics. We all know that the mob must recruit from a different gene pool these days like George Anastasia puts it, because the most intelligent Italian-American boys these days go to college and want a legitimate profession. The descendants of Jewish gangsters chose that route a lot earlier. Totally agree Billy. A lot of the guys from that generation come across as very smart. If they didn't grow up so poor they could have been successful in the legitimate world. Also agree with alicecooper. It's easy to run a successful business when you have all the unions and plenty of muscle on your side.
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Re: Myth that scumbag wiseguys were "good businessmen"
[Re: alicecooper]
#888289
07/21/16 06:47 PM
07/21/16 06:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 883
Belmont
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Underboss
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 883
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I always found it funny when one would claim that such and such wiseguy was a great businessman and could of been a millionaire legitimately.
They said that about Gravano and that was a bunch of bullshit.
Running an illegal business is so much easier than a legitimate one.
First off, there is barely any competition because most people fear prison.
Second, you dont follow any regulations. Third, see points one and two.
Most wiseguys are actually insecure and not comfortable outside their small circle. Its really a subculture. Im serious.
That being said, just like the legitimate world, a lazy criminal will always be broke opposed to a more assertive type guy. There are some very good earners in the life. No doubt about it.
Last edited by Belmont; 07/21/16 06:50 PM.
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Re: Myth that scumbag wiseguys were "good businessmen"
[Re: alicecooper]
#888749
07/27/16 01:39 PM
07/27/16 01:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,442
Alfa Romeo
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Underboss
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,442
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Everyone on this topic seems to be under the mistaken impression that a real businessman is some kind of educated intelligent individual.
While that might be true for middle management, it may not be true for the actual CEOs.
I remember hearing a statistic that most CEOs of American corporations had low GPAs in college, if they went to college at all.
Here's a random quote pulled off the internet in an attempt to track down the source of that stat:
"In “Talent is Never Enough”, leadership researcher and guru, John C. Maxwell, states “that more than 50% of all CEOs of Fortune 500 companies had a C or C- average in college and more than 50% of all millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college.” So why are most CEO’s “C” students? Does CEO stand for the “C” Entitled Officer?"
So in light of the this topic, which is the assumption that good businessmen are somehow more intelligent than a wiseguy, I would say that if a wiseguy could run an illegitimate business successfully, no it is not a sign of intelligence, but he also is probably just as smart as the majority of CEOs.
"For us, rubbin'out a Mustache was just like makin' way for a new building, like we was in the construction business."
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Re: Myth that scumbag wiseguys were "good businessmen"
[Re: Alfa Romeo]
#888761
07/27/16 03:59 PM
07/27/16 03:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,989
getthesenets
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Underboss
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,989
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I don't think that the mafia EVER recruited from the best and brightest of the Italian immigrant population. No, the best and brightest of that immigrant group overcame obstacles and succeeded in the legitimate world.
As all Italians have assimilated and succeeded in American society, the pool of guys willing to take those kinds of short cuts to make money has dwindled.
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Even a moderately successful businessman has to follow laws and rules that even low level wiseguys don't follow, let alone a high ranking mobster.
When you have payroll, tax, distributor, zoning, competitor, etc issues like a real businessman does, it's an entirely different game.
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