I don't really get this argument, even though I didn't really have an argument myself.
The problem isn't that he isn't law abiding. I for one definitely don't think the law is good because its the law. But because it prevents harm.
If Marcone prevents harm, thats one thing. But he also causes some. The net is positive even so.
Nothing says we can't destroy Marcone and install something thats even more positive though? Why shouldn't we?
If the question is calculus of net good anyway...
It would take organization, demons, spirits and probably some form of negotiation or mental Charms but...thats not a negative to me.
If the end result is better, then sure.
Most governments are a net good calculation.
My problem was people using Marcone being a gangboss that breaks human laws as justification without considering that most of those crimes also apply to every other supernatural faction, including us.
Marcone runs a malum in se organization that would crash and burn if it ever tried to go legal or become independent. The White Court is a malum prohibitum organization which is already mostly independent.
A while back I read a fascinating study on how criminal syndicates like the mafia are very much dependent on being illegal to operate.
For example, part of the reason many low-level goons work for the syndicate is that they have criminal records, which would make it hard for them to find a legitimate job, so they're stuck in jobs of dealing addictive drugs, extorting money, and getting in shootouts with competing syndicates. And working there is criminal in itself, which helps to keep them there.
If their criminal records were removed by public amnesty or the like, a lot of them would quickly start looking for jobs where they aren't getting in shootouts and the boss doesn't threaten to have them killed for failure.
Whereas at the top, the boss has to use criminal methods and threats to keep his goons in line, because if he tried to stick to law-abiding methods he'd find himself outcompeted, both from other bosses and from legitimate employment.
Not actually true.
At this point in time, much of Marcone's money and influence has been laundered and is entirely legal.
Which is typical of a lot of successful organized crime.
And the White Council explicitly draws much of its power and influence from human society, with massive amounts of capital invested in mortal businesses and economic activity. Its Word of Jim that a lot of their war against the Red Court is economic, wielding the accumulated capital of centuries as a weapon.
The White Council is entirely too entwined in human society, and frankly too small, to be independent.
They didnt use mortal medical facilities after the Battle of Palermo because they had a surfeit of choice.
And I remain firmly set on the hill that there is a difference between a mundane criminal and someone who lives in an entirely different world and keeps to the laws of that world, not the laws of the mundane states they are operating in.
In a sense you could say every adult Wizard in Harry Potter is a criminal for not paying income-taxes to muggle-authorities, but that seems pointless in the actual context of the story.
This isnt Harry Potter.
Wizards here are firmly part of human society; they own businesses and property, and pay taxes. They go to human hospitals when sick or injured. HP magical society is much more of an independent nation than the White Council is.
yeah I mostly agree though the dresden things arguable hes killed as much as marcone human wise hes definitely killed far less. by this book dresdens saved countries worth of people about 4 times now and thousands in some boo
ks right?
In Fool Moon he and Murphy kill the FBI hexenwolves.
In Grave Peril he calls up the ghosts that burned down Bianca's estate. We know she had human employees; its a plot point. I dont remember if he personally killed any of Nicky's cultists on the train in Death Masks.
In Blood Rites he takes a hit team against Mavra's nest in a homeless shelter.
We know Mavra uses Renfields, and its an explicit plot point of Dead Beat that she blackmails Dresden with photos she took of Murphy shooting a Renfield.
Im not saying dude isnt justified.
I am pointing out that Dresden has killed a bunch of mortals as of this point in the timeline, almost certainly more than Marcone personally has in the same time period. Just saying.
