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| The Right Hand Man | Started by: Rhydian-Roberts on Nov 19, '07 14:31 |
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*The Rid stands on a street corner engaging in idle chit-chat with a few other Wise Guys. There was nothing being said here that hadn't been said before, which was always the way. In between talking about the races, the potential scores and the demise of a prominent Capo Scandia in which little was said, the Rid got thinking about the Right Hand Man.* "People have different views on the Right hand man of the family. In my mind the structure represents something of a troika. The Boss is the Boss. The Underboss is the Underboss. The consigliere is the advisor. Between these three you normally see the highest profit margins in the family as all the crews that make up that family kick up what they take. The Underboss takes his cut from the Capos and distributes the rest to the Boss. The Consigliere is typically given his own arrangments from the Boss. He isn't the muscle. Maybe he gets a nice easy operation. And on certain big scores the Boss will make sure his most trusted advisor gets his cut. But there is a difference between the Underboss and the Consigliere that leads me to question the role of the Right hand man and how it is used. The right hand man is essentially dual purpose. It combines the role of Consigliere and Underboss. Some families will rotate the position as a means of giving experience to potential Bosses. Such rotation presumes not a troika of power but an inner circle. Those trusted in the real business end of the family may number more than 3. Perhaps even more than 6 or 8. Particularly if your special skills lies with violence. Because two overriding skills are prized above all others in a business such as ours. One is the ability to bring home the money, be it from a recalcitrant debtor, a hold-up or a hijacking. The other is the ability to kill effectively without being discovered. Given the role that button men play, they know the most important family business. And since they work in teams they are often many. And since they have these special skills, they almost enter into the inner circle of the family they serve by default. Does this perhaps demean the role of the Right hand man? Some of the most famous mobsters in our history had right hand men who were known in their own right. Famed, loyal and above all consistent in their role and their authority. Second only to the Boss, they were the as serious as smoking. Is the role of the importance of the right hand man being lost to family "councils" or is it as strong as ever?" |
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The way I perceive it, which granted, could be a naive viewpoint, is that the Right Hand Man is a more colloquial term for the Underboss, a role closely associated with the administrative side of a Mob syndicate. I don't mean this in a derogatory sense, I mean it in terms of organisational capabilities and responsibilities. In terms of a Consigliere, I've always felt they were more removed from the rigidity of family life, although I'd compare them to a LHM if I had to. I really couldn't comment or cite specific examples, as I've not been around long enough and certainly not been privvy to information which would let me make a well informed opinion on the matter. Although generally speaking, I've always thought family councils are something important, placing too much trust in one person, even if it is your RHM/Underboss/Consigliere, is a recipe for disaster. Whether or not that's the way business is conducted around here, and whether or not it's detrimental to a Right Hand functioning with efficiency, I really can't say. |
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| Reply by: Trigliani at Nov 19, '07 14:56 | |
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Your rpobably going to get mixed answers about your question, Because not everyone follows the same crew structure. There Will be variences into how the crew is being run, Oviously It is up to the boss. But Yes, I think the RHM is still and always will be a very important position. He Is one of a select few that can actually question the boss. And like all Boss's, they all trust their RHM. So they value their opinion, and will review concerns they bring up. Also The RHM is the Boss when the boss isnt around. Anything would go though him instead. As well as most things should. The RHM is the go to guy with problems, If he thinks its nessicary to take up with the boss he may do so. The RHM is also there to lighten the work load on the Boss, its a shared project running a crew, not just a one man show. Well this is my little rant, hopefully you got some Insight into my speach :P |
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| Reply by: Insight- at Nov 19, '07 15:00 | |
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| It all depends. In some families, there isn't one single person more qualified to be the RHM/W than the rest. In some families there is nobody good enough for that kind of responsibility, in some, there are many. It is up to the leader to read the situation and decide what kind of structure his family is best suited for. | |
| Reply by: TylerDurden at Nov 19, '07 15:13 | |
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| I agree each crew is different and there is no uniform structure that can be applied to all. Sure there can be some semblance of conformity within most crews, but it ultimately comes down to the individuals the crew leaders surrounds themselves with. Some will have an overabundance of more than qualified people to fill the positions of RHM and consig and some will have no one capable of the tasks asked of the people in those positions. | |
| Reply by: Silvano_Genovese at Nov 19, '07 19:25 | |
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GrapeJelly stands up from his chair and motions for Rhydian-Roberts to approach him. As Rhydian-Roberts nears GrapeJelly behins to whisper to him. I like what you are asking here it makes me wonder many things. To answer your question, it is not being lost to councils. The RHM is just as important then the boss. In fact, the RHM is the boss when the boss isn't around. You get what I mean? The RHM can never be lost to councils because he leads these councils just as much as the boss does. There is my opinion. I am eager to know what you think about your own quesiton though. GrapeJelly sits back down and waits for Rhydian to respond. |
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| Reply by: GrapeJelly at Nov 19, '07 22:45 | |
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*The Rid has a think while he puffs absent-minedly on a Chesterfield.* The purpose of the discussion was to play Devils advocate of course, as I'm sure you no doubt gathered Grapejelly. My own opinions hardly differ from those already offered. It'll depend on the Boss of the family and the rules he implements. Personally speaking I'm more of a traditionalist. I prefer one person to the role of RHM. When they are away, perhaps on holiday or a long stint in prison, I believe a caretaker replacement should be selected from an inner group, based on trust and merit. This person should serve in the role until the original RHM returns. I also believe no position in a family should be created unless it benefits the family. Too many cooks spoil the broth. If you've ever eaten out of some of the street shelters set up in New York, you'll know exactly what I mean. A summary of my views on the RHM positon can be simply said to be thus: Rotation for experience does not work and I believe can even weaken a family in times of trouble. Only through sitting in the big chair can you gain a Bosses experience. As a person better than me said it: "You got no fuckin idea what it's like being number one. How every decision you make effects every facet of every thing." |
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| Reply by: Rhydian-Roberts at Nov 20, '07 12:33 | |
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And to finish that quote: "And in the end, you're completely alone with it all." |
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| Reply by: Rhydian-Roberts at Nov 20, '07 12:35 | |
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The Great Cthulhu strokes his feelers, contemplating the question put to the group by his friend The Rid. Interesting topic. Arthur Schopenhauer once said "A man can be himself only so long as he is alone." True enough. Taken out of context it is also applicable in this situation. When one becomes responsible for the welfare and actions of a group of people, individual concerns for ones own self-centered needs becomes secondary in importance. The Running of any successful business venture requires a concerted group effort. We are legitimate businessmen and businesswomen after all. The position of RightHand transcends being just a title. It is a position reserved for ones most trusted and loyal asociate. A person who has proven themselves through their actions and their words throughout their career, and the respect given their Boss is reciprocated in kind. It takes a hell of a man or woman to fill this role. You work your fingers to the bone, then you work those bones down to nubs. Think back throughout time in this thing of ours and remember how many great RightHands come to mind. We can spend all day just talking about our favorites. It comes down to a simple fact; The RightHand of the family is the glue that holds everything together. In The Cult you will see throughout the day different individuals wearing the flashy suit and taking care of business. I trust each and every one of them with the lives of my family as well as my own. Trust is a commodity hard to come by. So hard to gain and so very easy to lose. That I have so many honoured and trusted associates is to our family's benefit. They may well wear the suit but in truth we have a hierarchy set up of a Right Hand and several alternates to fill in when life necessitates a temporary change. We all know our role in this thing of ours, and work together for the family. We have seen this become commonplace throughout the families. The world keeps on spinning and the clock keeps ticking. When we're closing our doors for the night here in New York, business is still going strong in other parts of the world. To lose out on those opportunities doesn't make sense financially. To meet these needs predicates that we use a cadre of able men and women to handle and meet all contingencies. Are they all to be considered Right Hands? The difficulty lies in trying to teach the multitude that something can be true and untrue at the same time. Wearing the suit doesn't define you as a person. By the time you try it on your character is already well known and there is no doubt as to your loyalty and sense of honour. It doesn't make you a foot taller or suddenly bulletproof. You don't slip it on and have epiphinies from God. It is not a vehicle for self-promotion. To have someone willing to selflessly give of themselves to the same extent as their Boss is remarkable when you stop and think about it. Truly. Putting love for the family above ones self-interests is the impetus that sees a great family become legend. Personally Rid, I'd like to hear the current RightHand Men and Womens opinions on how they think time has changed their role in this thing of ours. |
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| Reply by: Cthulhu at Nov 21, '07 12:53 | |
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