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The same that stops the mafia from threatening anybody who brews beer or distills liquor: the target can now call the cops.
by jpatokal 11y ago
The same that stops the mafia from threatening anybody who brews beer or distills liquor: the target can now call the cops.
- largote 11y agoMost people would switch to legal providers therefore drying up one of the money pipelines for cartels. Most of their power comes from their relatively large economic influence. Large corporate interests could leverage legit logistical infrastructure and take over, plus large corporations are rich and connected enough to get the police to actually enforce the law for them against threats.
- steve19 11y agoThe cops who work for the cartel [1]? [1] http://time.com/3490853/mexico-massacre-students-police-cartel-corruption/ http://time.com/3490853/mexico-massacre-students-police-cart... Edit: Downvoters, I would love to hear why I am wrong. I only know what I read about Mexican law enforcement, no personal experience dealing with them.
- jpatokal 11y agoImagine alcohol was illegal in Mexico, was suddenly legalized, and then the booze mafia and the corrupt cops on their payroll go around threatening home brewers selling their wares. Then Anheuser-Busch comes along and plunks down $100 million to build a brewery. Which side is any cop with half a brain going to opt for: the mafiosos trying to cling onto their obsolete business model, or the legit megacorp who'll be paying "facilitation fees" for decades to come?
- woodman 11y agoIt wasn't the poor moonshiner's ability to finally squeal for daddy that pushed the mafia out of the liquor business... it was the fact that they could not compete in the market place. Sure they could have went on a rampage and wrecked a bunch of legit distilleries, but all the while they would be hemorrhaging cash. Killing people aint cheap.