The mafia is not gone. It’s also not quite what you think it is. “This organization has penetrated every single major financial center on the planet. It owns businesses, and it funds political parties all over the world. It is part of the fabric of modern life and that’s actually the point. It’s got itself to a point now where it’s indispensable to the functioning of the modern world and it’s very difficult to root out.” Slate: The Mafia Is More Powerful Than It’s Ever Been.