[maxxxxx]

In what way are these guys different from mob guys running a protection racket? They seem to operate exactly like thugs that come to a restaurant, ask for money for "protection" and then often walk away with 10% or less of what they asked for.

[fma]

If mob guys lobby politicians to make their protection racket legal, then no difference.

[maxxxxx]

There is a long history of the mob paying off cops and politicians....