**DISCLAIMER** Please take note that the following statements are in no way criticizing current rulings or demands. It is simply an opinion made for debate.



A short stubby man walks up to the podium with a cigar in the mouth

First I would like to make it clear that in no way am I arguing over any matters. I am simply stating how I feel on this subject so any actions taken in rebellion to the comments would be plain out ludicrous and would go to show why these streets have become a paranoid fest pool for those who'd like to speak out but afraid to lose their life.

So with that in the air, let's move on to the subject in which brings me to these lovely paved streets....


PROTECTION PROTECTION PROTECTION!

As we all have seen as of late, many CL's have been falling. Of course with any fallen leader the immediate response is to protect those who were serving such leader. Do I disagree with protecting the innocent of a crew leader who was shot over night in their sleep, leaving the homeless with no where to go? Absolutely not.

Do I however disagree with protection involving the scenario where a crew leader gets tired of the life he's leading and out of boredom, desperation or just plan defiance, takes a random shot at another family and leaving them without a home as well? Absofuckinglutely not.

Now remind you this is just my opinion but if I'm not mistaken, do crew leaders get punished for actions involving their family? Yep uh huh...

Don't we always say, "Represent your family well for the actions you take reflect your crew leader and us as a whole?"

Don't we always say, "Read the rules, sign them, regardless of rank you are family and your loyalty is with us?"

I'm all about protection orders, but the way I see it is if your young growing in the family, learning the ways and attempting to follow in your boss's foot steps, well then you as well should be held for your leaders actions. Yes we can't control what our boss's do, but you do however control who you serve, and if you didn't believe in your boss's ability to handle situations you surely wouldn't have placed yourself in a position for failure would you?

Yes it is very unfortunate when something out of your control happens, but this IS the mafia... It happens all the time. You have no control over what others do to jeopardize your life, but once again that is a part of being a family. You eat together, you crime together, you grow together, and eventually hope to be one of the top families. So therefore, you should die together when your family decides to take action. Once again PLEASE understand, in no way am I against protection orders for those who's family was destroyed by someone unable to control impulse. My explanation is directed the the families of the crew leaders that just aren't strong willed enough to control such impulses.

Now I understand I don't have a say in any rulings that are in place, nor do I have the authority to question said rules. I do however have a right of expression without putting family at risk, another little something something that us as Mafioso's are micro scoped for, as it should be within certain boundaries.

The man takes a deep breathe and he finishes his conversation

I'm not asking for opinions but you are more then welcome to share yours. I'm merely stating how much of a dick I really am. So until next time this is Richard saying.....

"How much Dick can you handle?"

I must say, I always use protection, otherwise things could get a little messy, y'know?

My apologies for the intoxicated speech but please let me correct my errors,

"Do I however disagree with protection involving the scenario where a crew leader gets tired of the life he's leading and out of boredom, desperation or just plan defiance, takes a random shot at another family and leaving them without a home as well? Absofuckinglutely not."

I meant to state... "Do I however AGREE with protection involving the scenario........"

The Waffles got me really stoned this morning and my mind has been a baffle... Thanks a lot you delicious treats!

LittliestMeechem walks over after Dick finishes spilling things from his "head" all over the gathered crowd

I can't disgree with you here Richard. I understand the protection of those who fall in the "my crewleader was killed by some gun happy wacktard" catagory, but for those who fall in the "my crewleader is a wacktard" catagory I can't see the reasoning for sparing their lives.

Quick Questions!

1) What's the first thing we say when people bitch about their parents death after war? Answer: It's the mafia, grow a pair!

2) What also do we say to the people that moan about being killed for comments on the streets? Answer:  You didn't have the power to back your statements fuck off thug!

3) What have we been conversating about the last week which included MadeMen? Answer: Which Mademen have the most power and deserve the most respect. Also how        much influence the city they reside in plays on the power structure.

I said all that to say this! I'm so tired of the whole "let hold hands in a circle" the "what are we debaters" the "this is the mafia not the boy scouts" the "we killed all them while they where sleep because it was good stradegy".

But the first thing that is done when a crewleader dies, and even when he's at fought for his death, is run to the street like mayors or governors calling for protection. Which is strange because one of the most used phrases around here is "This is not politics".

Lets fucking act like it's not politics around here sometimes. Everything around here is a double standard and only applies to those without power who have no choice but to obey or die. I just which we had that mentality on ALL issues and not just the ones that benefit themselves at the moment.

LittliestMeechem steps back and heads up the alley. He's had more than enough Dick for the day.

:Sly laughs:

So glad you corrected that, Mr. Wad.  My head was spinning in circles, as well, trying to figure out what you were trying to say.

But on the subject, I am typically not against protection orders.  No goomba wants to die in their sleep over a war that they never knew about.  If the city stands and there are still CLs to protect them, I say it's reasonable to let them protect them until they are shepherded back into crews.  At its simplest level, it just makes good business sense for the surviving leaders involved.

I don't think "this is not politics" is a very common phrase around here.

If you speak to those involved with the higher levels of Cosa Nostra, I'm fairly certain they will tell you about the politics that occur on a daily basis.

Very true, Craig.  In fact, when I tell my friends about our world, in the end, the politics is the part that makes it seem truly worthwhile.  I think that this aspect of our world is what sets our organization apart from other similar ones.

i think that the protection of crew emebers of a dead leader is, yes, partially depentand on why that leader died. if a CL dies of a gun malfunction, then yes, i would see the way of either his godfather, or one from another city, to protect those who that CL protected until something can be done. now, if a CL takes a shot at another crew or city, then i have a slightly diffrent outlook.

firstly, i do not approve of non-made men being held accountable for the decisions of there CL. yes you chose a CL based on your belief in his ability to lead. but A, what proof did you have, and B, how many leaders decide to tell there crew members before going rogue?

if you are abovce made man, then i think that, yes, you can defend yourself. but below made man, they are under the protection of there CL, and it is the duty of there godfather (or godmother) to see to it that said protection is carried out in the event of there CL getting killed through his own stupidity.

Actually, Meech, you'd be surprised how much "politics" actually plays a part in your life. It's the reason why you - myself, and probably everyone included, are still alive and not in a world of total chaos. There's a reason why two cities have laid claim to the other six and tax them as such.


As for Dick's penetrating insight and points, I'll have to be inclined to disagree - there are crewleaders that in their past actions seemed to have shown no inclination for the actions they committed that landed them in an early grave. As a crewleader who would be attacked by this seemingly random offense, I'd likely, like most, be inclined to attack full force. But if on the rare chance I've come to the knowledge that it was a random action on the head's part - well, I'm not going to hold their members guilty of being associated with an idiot if they had no previous knowledge to go on. That's provided, though, that I'm aware of that information before I act.

Let's bear in mind that many cities have a Godfather controlling it. All these families and crews are mere factions of his regime, the Crewleaders being nothing more than his captains.

I agree that lower ranking members shouldn't be granted automatic protection, although I did benefit from such a very short while ago. However, Godfather Roman served in my crew's city. When my crewleader died, I moved to another Chicago family. I was still ultimately under Roman's rule. My work and my tributes still ultimately work their way up to him, why should he lose earnings just because someone in the middle died?

In times of war between cities I find it ridiculous that people can be offered protection. If I'm in a war with my family I will gladly die in that war. If your city remains, then you should remain.

Monty makes his way through the crowd listening to all the back and forth, waits patiently for an opening then steps up ready to speak.

First I'd like to start by saying that "This is not politics." is a very unfair statement. In all honesty the mafia is all about politics, nobody like risking their life over situations that could have been avoided. General solid rule is to talk thins over and be "political" about everything before you go firing off your gun at the nearest made man just to get his boss's attention.

Now, that being said when wars do get started, regardless of the reason, it's more than fair to protect the associates to the families of fallen bosses, most times a young goomba's only tie to a family is that he would be an errand boy and make deliveries then recieve a little payment from someone up top, nothing more than that. Do I think it's fair that every man should be protected or seek protection, certainly not. A true made member of a family will be loyal to that family and city well after his boss's demise and should therefor be the next man to be reasoned with, and should politics fail with him, well, what can you do but get him out of the way right?

My father was a prime example of this, one of the most loyal men you would ever meet to his boss, a true Made member of his family, and after a war had wiped everyone else out, he and a few associates were all that were left of the city. Though his story didn't end in the best way he refused to hide behind the protection that was offered. Instead, he did everything he could to try to appologize for his boss's actions and work out some sort of deal so he and the associates that were still homeless could stay in their city.

Now, grant it, he was shot soon after that by some man with an itchy finger, regardless, but he knew the risk when he stepped out looking to hold his city together. But I guess what I'm trying to say is that yes, some people in our world deserve our protection, those who have not been around long enough to make their mark, our associates, and others, who have worked hard and long, and marked their place in the world only deserve the protection they earn from the respect they recieve from other mafiosa.

Long story short I believe people recieving protection from their families demise all depends on the person and what they decide to do with the time they do have before their boss was killed. Take this with a grain of salt and thank everyone for their time.

Monty tips his hat, steps down, and starts off down the street.

Satine steps up to the center of the crowd and begins to speak.

Having been a recent beneficiary of a protection list, I'd like to say that I do believe it should be used on a case by case basis. Some situations aren't always just black or white. Often there are grey areas. Having said that, I would like to remind all of you that many come off of the boat knowing no one, having no anscestors here, and being pressured to find a home so quickly that we often don't give them enough time to figure out thier leader's character prior to joining them. With that being the case, how could we actually say it was thier poor choice that brought them to death as if some of thier own skill was to blame? If they had more time to pick and choose thier family then I would be more apt to say "Sleep in the bed you made." but that simply isn't the world we live in these days.

She then smiles a bit nervously and walks back into the crowd.

It's a fair point, although none of my forefathers have benefitted from any protection orders, I do know of a lot of people who have.

It's great when crew members from fallen leaders are protected, and although this will reek of hypocrisy I believe if a leader fucks up, then the members are fair enough game, it would have to be in an almighty fuck up category, but still game.

I do realise the hypocritical nature of these comments, but there you go.

Ultimately it comes dowen to the individual involved, and who issues the order.

For instance, CL A is a nob, and fucks up and dies. CL B from the same city issues a protection order. However, CL A pissed off Godfather A from another city and that GF decides to hell with the protection order and he and his hitters decide to role in and level the town.

The only reason protection orders have worked thus far is because everyone involved has agreed to support the order. All it would take is for one CL to say 'you know what, fuck the protection order' and as long as he or she can back that up the survivors would be right royally buggered.