One of the main points of the show is to portray how society has changed, or fallen (depending on how you see it) by using the mob as an example. The first episode when Tony is in Melfi's office and says he knows he got in too late, and that he wishes he was like his dad or uncle who got in at the ground level. I think that's the writers using symbolism of the times (late 90's turn of the century). The writers felt that things used to be better. Not necessarily true on the whole, but definitely true for LCN.