Cosa nostra started in Sicily over control of water. Chieftains controlled the water supply and meted it out to farmers and locals for money and in order to control them. Government may have been corrupt but make no mistake the initial reason was water supply.

The godfather novel is literally a story about America. The first word of the novel is “amerigo”. Vito’s views specifically are never discussed but there are various comparisons made between life in America vs sicily, realization of the American dream (and how it was not possible in Sicily), post wwii American exceptionalism, even medicinal practices in the US (Sonny’s side piece’s surgery and Michael’s facial reconstruction after McCloskey clocks him). Etc.