In our world, it is obvious that there are things that we never really see. For example, we don't know how much stuff is made, what people do behind closed doors, and we never really want to know. However, something is happening before our eyes and we never know it. Organized crime is the one thing we don't know about that is happening out in the open. That pizzeria you go to that's been around for years, then burns down when it starts going bankrupt; or those people who look innocent and then do something a little suspicious. These are two small things that are happening that involve organized crime. Organized crime is everywhere around us and has a huge effect on the way society functions and the way we live. People may underestimate and not really know the immense size of these gangs or organizations. Just four of the major crime families have “250,000 affiliates worldwide.” (Federal Bureau of Investigation) With people all over the world dealing drugs, evading taxes, killing or just investing in business, who knows what can happen in our country or around the world. There are also many different types of crimes and many crime families involved. There are affiliates and members "in Canada, South America, Australia and parts of Europe". (Federal Bureau of Investigation). Not only are they huge organizations, but they “often collaborate with other international organized crime groups around the world” (Federal Bureau of Investigation). There is a very important system in a criminal organization, which is that orders come from above. In The Firm, there is an order to eliminate two lawyers who started talking to the FBI. So the orders... middle of paper ......eenhaven, Gale, Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. This book had a ton of information on the history of organized crime in America, how they got there. , and how things are happening before your eyes, and you'll never even know it. "The New York Times Log In." The New York Times - Breaking news, world news and multimedia. Internet. May 4, 2010. .This was an article about a few men who hit rock bottom with their organized crime. They were once the top dogs, then they crashed. Salerno, Ralph and John S. Tompkins. The Crime Confederation; Cosa Nostra and allied operations against organized crime. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1969. Print. It was there that I obtained information about the difficulties and the origin of the crime. I also saw that it was a difficult thing to follow, it is not a life of ease.