Movies and tv shows kept them in the public spotlight way past their prime. Law enforcement wants to keep the public feeling safe, so they keep Cosa Nostra propped up. The public wants to see the documentaries, and the indictments. Also the majority of new gangs are made up of minorities, prosecuting them or having frequent mass arrests leads to pushback from their communities. The public shares some of the blame for being suckers.
All true, Jace. Plus: Americans are obsessed with "secret societies." In the early days, it was the Freemasons. Then the KKK. In the 1940s and 50s it was the Communist Party USA, Now (and for a long time) it's the Mafia. Thanks to mass media, movies, TV, Internet, etc., the public won't let it alone. Mafia has the dubious distinction of being a :"secret society" that isn't secret. If "Mafia" were a brand, it'd have more recognition than Apple and McDonald's combined.
