My late,’great’ great-great granddad has been spoken about on these Streets lately.  I don’t wish to resurrect his name to cause trouble – perish the thought.  But I do want to pay homage to his innovative ways  with a series of lectures on small yet significant ways in which the 8 cities could be changed for the better.  For PR purposes, these lectures shall be called “As Kuklinski  sees it”.  There will be a number of volumes and the subjects chosen won’t be too controversial. 

An interesting way to demonstrate community, leadership and collective responsibility could be just the ticket to improved inter and intra relationships across the 8 cities.  Let me develop this point.

Every so often a family emerge from Delaware, they are numerous but largely docile.  They shoot only when shot at, generally only take one bodyguard with them and aren’t treated with respect – in fact, they are usually gunned down on sight – in a hurry.  This is how it’s been done thus far and, frankly, there is no rational reason to change this.

Or is there?  Gun and blood lust are endemic in this thing.  This isn’t, in itself, a bad thing – but perhaps, in the spirit of discipline and commerce, a more principled (I use the term aware of the paradox) stance could be adopted.

Let us say, for example, that the Godfather of the Durden crew is spotted in New York.  History has shown that he will stay put – only leaving if a would be assailant misses the target and flees the city.  Now my point is this. Should or would a member of another city be allowed to shoot up the streets of New York without paying their dues to the powers that be of that city?  And vice versa, of course.  What I’m getting at is the commercialisation of the shooting of the Delaware crews.  The mobsters that appear every so often becoming the de facto ‘possessions’ of whatever city that they find themselves in.  I’m sure that new and upcoming cities would welcome this new income stream and I’m also sure that more established cities would be happy shooting away knowing that some fellow from another city isn’t trying to beat them to their target.

This would require a meeting of the Godfathers, protocols being agreed and a change of culture.  And rigid enforcement.  Perhaps this could all be a force for good?

Estebano, I really don't feel this could be implemented in a way that would benefit our community at all. The whole point of taking down the Durden crew when they arrive is to train our own skills to better prepare us for when a more pressing engagement takes place and we are called to defend our cities against less docile opponents.

If what you are suggesting is put into practice, the skills that are used in reality (such as hunting down the target and being the first to land the hit) would not be used in the same way.

This would be implemented just the same as the gun tax FIRST set forth by the first GF ever Anita in Philly. Anyone caught shooting at or killing anything in that particular city,without having paid the tax,gets snuffed out.

there have been other attempts at this throughout history,so slapping the Durdens into the scenario does not make it a NEW idea.

The shooting tax is one thing, what I'm proposing is something different.  In order for it to have as little meaning and impact as possible it would have to be done carefully.  It’s important to bear a few things in mind when thinking about this.  Not everyone will understand, but those that do will benefit hugely.

I've been asked to read the words of a successful reformed criminal, someone who got a grip. And this is what he says "Remember that your life in prison is like a dog in a box. What you've got to do is make the dog bigger than the box. Not in a bad way like a mad wolf, in a matchbox, but more like a giant, a well-behaved Alsatian in a Kleenex box. Your aim is to place that dog in the lap of the guvnor - that is, the evil part of you - with a smile as you leave.

But getting back to the Durdens.  Do we want to become murderers for no reason?  Or do we want the killing to have reason, meaning and raison d'être?  Probably not, but it’s important to look into philosophical musings on other killers and killings.  Think of this;

"You are a murderer, and I can only pray to god that you watch, and you listen, very carefully to this”

"Hello, you think you don't know me don't you? Yes, but you do because - I'm the shopkeeper you shot in a mindless hold-up; you blew out my guts, remember? I'm the old lady whose head you stove in with a loose wardrobe in the middle of the night, remember? I'm the little boy whose face you stabbed off in panic when I found you robbing my house, remember? I'm Marvin Gaye, shot by my own father - oh yes, you know me alright.  Look into my eyes, murderer. You killed me! What the hell did you do that for? Look at me - feel proud, do you? Do you even know what a feeling is? I do, but I can't have any more now, because of you. You!  You get out after twenty-five years, but me? I'm here forever. I hate you.

You might now be thinking twice about shooting, or perhaps not.

I think what your failing to relies is that the durdens come here because of the duty every one already pays with taking on contracts, filling up the jails and so forth. The only thing this would achieve is a city hoarding the durdens for them selfs or passing on for a fee which defeats every single point of them.

I'm sorry pal no matter how great you try and word this the idea and basics off it are stupid.

You're being shortsighted.  There is no I in T E A M.

A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms. Enthusiams... What are mine? What draws my admiration? What is that which gives me joy? Baseball! A man stands alone at the plate. This is the time for what? For individual achievement. There he stands alone. But in the field, what? Part of a team. Teamwork.... Looks, throws, catches, hustles.Part of one big team. Bats himself the live-long day, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and so on. If his team don't field... what is he? You follow me? No one. Sunny day, the stands are full of fans. What does he have to say? I'm goin' out there for myself. But... I get nowhere unless the team wins.

I wanna know what literature Estebano is using for his words he is using here in the streets.

Saying what you mean is alot different than reading the answer you wish to give.

While I appreciate the effort and insight behind this idea, I find it to be somewhat pointless. As someone has already mentioned, the people of these 8 fine cities have already paid their dues in order to have the right to shoot at these men and women from Delaware. Adding further tax for the sake of tax is not constructive, it is instead making rules up for the sake of it and causing further hassle and confusion to those new to this thing of ours.

As I said, I do think its great that someone like yourself has tried to use an old system and flip it into something new, but ultimately its not something I would agree is worthwhile.

Alabama has phrased my point better than I did.

I respect your point Estebano, but as a member of a business and mafia community I would find this idea completely pointless.

In the same way I like your poetic and theological views on killing innocents, but this conscience of mine is not so easily reached. The Durden's are as far as we are concerned, enemies trying to exploit our business opportunities; not innocent women and children killed in cold blood. I have no problem with their deaths at all.

 The main point is that the means in which the Durden's are disposed of doesn't need to be adjusted. It is pretty much perfect. The disadvantages and complications of your idea outweigh the advantages...

Let me repeat myself, I find your idea refreshing but you aren't thinking of the bigger picture.

I am sure someone has pointed out that this isn't new thing, in fact as recently as 9 months ago this was enacted by Godfather TheDean as a way to bring money into New York following the war of the summer.

As a way to boost a cities income it is very good, however the principle behind it depends on the power you have behind the person enforcing the tax. TheDean and Roman both could do it because they had BGs and strong guns behind them. I don't think at the time there was anyone who could sleep at night feeling safe they could go against TheDean and not wake up with a bullet in their head.

The other effect to this is you get a spate of tit for tat taxes, lets roll it out currently.

Roman puts a shooting tax in place on Chicago.

The first thing that Godfathers Premeir, Alabama, Grif and Kimble will do is put a tax in place on their cities, a bit of negotiation will occur and one of the following outcomes will occur.

Godfather families will be exempt of the taxes

Cities with a Godfather will become exempt from the taxes

So a tax that was going to bring in considerable revenues, now becomes something that brings in a pittance and takes a shit load of time to check and enforce.

Factor in the bad will that comes with doing this and negotiations that occur and suddenly this isn't the best idea in the world.