HI Bob,

On Mon 2037-Aug-03 13:15, Bob Klahn (1:124/311) wrote to Richard Webb:

BK>>  OTOH, can you imagine the Calli cartel incorporating in this
BK>> country? The Mafia has a history of getting into legal
BK>>  businesses.

 RW> I can indeed.  THese folks know how to wash money, just as
 RW> the old mafia did.  I"m sure they're already doing the same
 RW> to some degree.

BK>  Oh, you can bet on that.

HEll they're already doing it on a large scale you can bet
your bottom dollar.  I could tell some stories about a guy
on Florida's Gulf coast I knew and his methods for washing
money from his "import" business.  A recording studio,
vending machines in lots of places, including coin laundry
facilities in apartment complexes, a sound reinforcement
business, which is how I became acquainted with him, the
studio and the sr company.

Iirc they finally shut him down in '81 or so, at least
according to a friend of mine's mom down that way.

 RW> OF course it does, and when the drug warriors from outside
 RW> subsidize the locals to come in and eradicate the crop then
 RW> they move on, displacing more folks somewhere else.

BK>  And the cycle continues. Stability is important in establishing  a
BK> decent system that functions without a criminal underpining. 

OF course it is, and we'll never see stability in those
countries as long as we practice our "war on drugs" because
there's too much money to be made.  What's a few more
peasants displaced?

 RW> IT isn't just what they do, but they seriously want a
 RW> monopoly.  THe coca growers are encouraged to grow coca, so

BK>  Of course they do. Competition is overcome by killing them. 

yEp, and when you drive the peasants out or force them to
deal with you you've got it made in the shade.  GOt troubles with the court
system?  Either buy off the judge, or kill
him.  Quite simple, either take the money, live long and
prosper, or get quite dead.  Which choice would any man
take?

 RW> poor farmers in Latin America uproot their families and
 RW> become refugees.

BK>  Until our programs make them a real consideration they will not 
BK> enjoy long term success.

OUr programs aren't going to make them a real consideration, because
they're nobodies, but then we lament the unstable
governments, etc. etc.  The forgotten peasant class, made
ever larger by the war on drugs.

Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+