What do you feel the ideal "cycle" is of our world? We fight and bicker, meet new people and make old friends. We purge and bitch, we endure nepotistic regimes and competition driven initiatives. Legends rise and, despite our acceptance or rejection of their ways, they fall again. Ultimately, the wheel keeps turning. 

The answer to the question I pose will not find a unanimous sweet spot. Some agendas are just too embedded in self interests. Money? Power? Notoriety? We've seen a lot can be done to further these desires, and if that's how you want to roll, that's your call.

My interests though are what we'd like to see, what are realistic objectives that help maintain the essence of the lives we lead, while avoiding an all out shit show of malicious attempts to damage this world and turn away the people that make it what it is. I find this question an interesting one to dwell on, as it demands you think about what your expectations of your time here really are. It makes you think about why you're here, and it will hopefully make us all realise that we're probably not that different to each other, regardless of which side of whose fence we've sat on through the generations past (well, for the most of us).

Personally, I have three areas the fit nicely into the "cycle" analogy. Please imagine this world with me.

New Blood - Any stable regime should be supporting the new blood to our streets. This doesn't just mean to avoid entering a state of rebuilding, but to provide opportunity and development, to help swell the footfall on our streets with the young and eager. This is one of our key priorities as a new leadership group.

Engagement - So we're set up, and things are going well. However, throughout the life of a mobster, they must feel there are sufficient activities to get involved with and goals to achieve, so as to not grow idle or lethargic. In my opinion, this falls as a responsibility to both our leadership groups and the Gods to ensure there is something to be working towards. Sure, we can make all that cash or credit alternative, but to spend it on what? To achieve what? To be remembered for what?

Death - Death is inevitable, and a key part of our life. If you're doing all the right things though on this hypothetical, magical wheel we're creating, there's no reason why it should come so soon into your tenure. And you certainly shouldn't be in a position where you fear it. 

But death still needs to happen, there are many with a blood lust which needs to be fulfilled. This is where all the effort you've put in pays off. The world population is thriving, and because of that, you're able to set up competition cities and smaller startup crews. These help maintain a element of conflict within crews and the immature masses come to learn the hard way to check their gun safety, or not tell their crew leader to suck a dick.

This structure might even be scalable, where those 'same old faces' we see always on different sides make peace and begin working together. For all you old timers of the world, sit back, settle your differences and focus on keeping things fresh and interesting for the rest of us. Leave the squabbles and petty in fighting to those of us that are younger, still making our bones in the world. If your family has been around long enough to know this place inside and out, you should be past the point of struggling to make it to the top. If your line has made it to the highest ranks over and over, but they're still catching bullets with their organs? Well, they've not really made it. How can you consider yourself a success if you get wacked? Make peace and become the men and women behind the curtains. Take your place as Godfathers and rule over those who are still learning to be mobsters, who will idolize the grace and wisdom of their Don's.

Then when you're old and feel you've done all you can with your time? Hand over to your second in command, retire to the old country. Maybe the Gods will let us get a plaque or something to commemorate the occasion. "You Won."

...

Yeah, I got a bit overboard towards the end there. As unrealistic as my vision is, in reality, there's nothing we can't do with this place. It's the people that make it, and we've just got used to running things how we think they need to be run. To jump at every whisper, to close the books on any real change. Thanks for anyone willing to listen, I look forward to the thoughts of others on this topic.

This is a really interesting and thought provoking read.

in over 18 years of being on these avenues, names have changed obviously the general 'cycle' as you put it hasn't really changed.

Nor should it. It should always be a test to see who can seize control the problem lies in the 'what next' chapter of a regime.

I personally, miss the sheer, good natured and inclusivity of the streets.  Whilst I understand there have to be cafe districts for certain conversations, I think we miss a coming together sometimes.

I've had many single malts so my be rambling.