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What To Do When Your Country Unexpectedly Becomes a Mafia State
Kakistocracy and kleptocracy may also apply
Life’s funny. One day you’re out front painting the picket fence while the kids play in the yard, and the next you’re hiding under the porch with a stack of banned books while the National Guard thunders down your street, firing tear gas at random passersby.
If this sounds familiar, you might be living in a Mafia State.
What’s a Mafia state?
A Mafia state is a country where the government is so entwined with criminals that there’s no meaningful difference between them. It’s similar to a kleptocracy, where government officials use their positions to divert the national resources to their families and their cronies.
You may also hear your homeland described as a kakistocracy, a nation run by the least competent people. This style of government, which often aligns with the Mafia state, is an Affirmative Action program for dishonest, well-connected sycophants.
How do I know it’s a Mafia state?
A few things to look for:
- Are the people at the top openly enriching themselves and their families through corrupt schemes that would be considered repugnant in any…