Governments turn to Organized Crime for Revenue

Strike The Root presented an interesting article today, about a town in Colorado that doesn't take too kindly to competition on their turf. The Mob apparently has a new look. This one includes a shiny badge. Somebody forgot to pay their protection money.

The raid was a major sting operation, and officials spent a month in preparation for it after finding out about the game. Never mind Andy Griffith walking into the restaurant and having a talk with the owner: "You know, Jeff, what you're doing isn't legal, and you're going to have to shut it down." "Oh, thanks Andy, I'm sorry, I wouldn't have held the poker game and risked felony arrest as well as loss of my liquor license if I thought I was doing anything wrong. As far as we knew, we were doing everything by the book." (That last line is an actual quote from a waiter at the restaurant.) Instead, the smart-ass, arrogant police chief Dale Smith says, "Normally, we don’t give warnings for felonies." Looks like Barney Fife has gotten a promotion.