tony got a "once of a lifetime" score in first season from them columbians. he had the car racket with italy. many construction rackets like HUD. Barone.

bread and butter income like loansharking an protection. bookmaking in nfl was a great earner for him

True, but to consider:

- Tony went on the rant to the capos at the beginning of Season 4, inquiring why there was no growth in revenues. Tony was quite angry with Ally Boy, who was letting ventures die on the vine.
- Clear back to the Pilot, there was concern about the garbage business diminishing. Not only did you have the Kolar Bros. moving in, but then in the last season, Dick Barone died and sold out.
- There was less cash flow on the construction rackets than previously, especially on the no-show jobs. When Paulie was in jail, there was a spat between Little Paulie and Ralph on the number of no-shows that could be spared. In Season 6, Phil and Tony were arguing on the number of no-shows (the meet at Costco) that could be divvied up.
- There was probably good money coming in on the cars to Italy, however, the FBI was aware of that racket clear back to when Pussy was alive (Pussy lied and told Lipari that Ray Curto had the operation).
- Port thefts were becoming more difficult because of the increased terror scrutiny.
- Even traditional income streams like protection were becoming difficult because of gentrification and local businesses being replaced with corporate stores. When Burt Gervasi and Patsy Parisi stopped by the new Starbucks clone, they were flat out rebuffed on joining the protection association. There's a mob worse than LCN, and that's corporate finance and accounting.

You got it right, corporations have essentially driven many of the blue-collar jobs overseas or simply eliminated their use which directly impacts people in "a certain line of business".

Ray Curto really wasn't joking or lying when he was saying the economy was the cause of diminished family returns. Even those Italian Hitters scoffed at the idea of a weaker American Dollar after their business with the Ukranian in Queens.

The decline of the dollar is the root of all these problems.