No matter how you feel about Donald Trump, it can't be denied that everybody is talking about him. Many members of the younger generation, a generation described by New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman as "much more optimistic and idealistic than they should be," but "so much less radical and politically engaged than they need to be" can be seen sporting the text message style words IDK Not Trump Tho on bumper stickers, T-shirts and everything in between.
He decided to skip the last Republican debate, has been labeled "un-Christian" by Pope Francis in response to his ideas surrounding immigration and "the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency" by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in response to his behavior during the March 3 debate. He has even been endorsed by former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, which he has refused to denounce before first doing research, bringing speculations to light about Donald Trump's affiliation status with the group (his father was arrested after a Klan riot in Queens in 1927). But, a revelation about Donald Trump that carries more water than the concern over the KKK endorsement, though less talked about in news coverage, is Donald Trump's mob affiliations.
Recent pressure for Donald Trump to release his tax returns, something his running mate Ted Cruz has been heavily pushing for, has resurfaced concerns about Donald Trump's ties with the mob. It has been recognized that contact between developers and Mafia-controlled companies is "almost unavoidable" in New York's and New Jersey's construction industry during the 1980s and early 1990s. However, the extent to which Trump had relationships with these people is in question.
There is a vast list of alleged mob-related figures with whom Trump has done business, including: Salvatore Testa (allegedly headed a Philly Mafia hit-squad called the Young Executioners), Nicademo "Little Nicky" Scarfo (headed a construction company that helped build the casino in addition to sharing an investment banker with Trump), Phillip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti (headed a construction company, helped build a casino), Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno (alleged boss of the Genovese crime family), Paul Castellano (alleged don of New York's Gambino family) and Kenneth Shapiro. More recently, a twice-convicted felon from Russia with known mob ties by the name of Felix Sater has held the title "senior advisor to Donald Trump," from at least 2010 to 2011 (as referenced on Sater's LinkedIn account).
At the end of the day, regardless of any negative sentiment that surrounds Trump, he is a successful businessman. His affiliations with organized crime groups highlights the fact that the mob isn't dead, especially not in New York City. Trump's candidacy has done a good job of bringing publicity — a lot of publicity (regardless of the connotations implied by such coverage). Recent concern about the extent of Trump's mob affiliations highlights a reality of doing business in the capital of Immigrant America. What will be done with an increase in awareness of this fact, especially in today's political and business environment, is hard to predict.
For all the criticisms of Donald Trump, and for all the empty threats of U.S citizens moving to Canada, he is leading polls in the states that are holding primaries or caucuses in the next two weeks and is still on track to win the GOP nomination. Our generation can be as optimistic and idealistic as we want about the way things need to be in our country, but, as spoken best by Paulo Coelho, "The world is changed by your example not by your opinion." If you don't like the idea of having to choose between Donald Trump and the woman proclaimed by everyone from a Navy Seal to Sanders' supporters to be a liar, it is necessary for you to do more than complain about the current situation. Focus on the tangible applications of your opinions, and act on them. Otherwise, stop wasting oxygen by complaining relentlessly.
