Originally Posted By: pizzaboy
Originally Posted By: jvanley
In the 70's, 80's and even 90's people did their 5-20 year stint in the Can and they knew they would be taken care of while in the Can and when they got out. Not now

But they weren't always taken care of when they got out, JV. That's one of the things that leads to resentments and the eventual flipping of some of these guys.

A lot of these guys are disillusioned thinking that their wives and kids are going to be provided for while they're away. That's a myth. Look at Karen Hill having to go on welfare, or go back and read "Donnie Brasco," and you'll see how angry Sonny Black was at his family being shunned by everyone but Lefty when he was away.

And those are just a couple of high-profile public examples. I've seen what often happens to their families when they go away. It's not pretty.


That's really interesting PB. I've heard/read that too and now you also confirm it. I know people in that life are not known for benevolent behavior but you would think if nothing else out of pure self-interest that the bosses or captains would try to set up some modest funds for people that got sent away for relatively short periods of time-say less than 10 years. That would reduce resentments and worrying over the financial status of wives/children/relatives.

"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
Winter is Coming

Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.