That seems true on the big and small scale.  Local politicians and lawyers have their connections, and are confident they can break laws and ethics with impunity.  The little guys they walk on are supposed to run the gauntlet of an expensive and contrived legal maze, in order to fight back.  Justice seldom happens.

The "mob" and/or connected are noticed at the top, but all these smaller guys might have their friends as well ... it all seems like organized crime to me.  Officials are (often) more interested in using position to build their dirty empire of influence, than in cleaning anything up.  

I'm in Illinois, as the indicted governor said of his ability to use position for personal gain  "it's 'effin' golden".  But most don't get indicted.  If one of the trampled on got fed up, these turkeys would have trouble refusing to make an appointment with him.  They count on their victims walking away if the receptionist says "he's not available right now."