Prior to the Worst Gen and Luffy, Dragon was the only one disturbing the balance. Yonko serve their role, they cull the world of small time criminals the same way Big Mafia Families do in our own. Do not forget the Yonko are crushing Pirates left and right same as the other 2 major powers, and even protect their territories.
Let's see some of the Yonko relationships towards the Navy and WG. I will not include BB because he is part of the new age
- Whitebeard: He mainly didn't mess with the Navy and as we saw in Flashbacks he was even content avoiding them. Yes, there's the Ace episode, but that was an exception.
- Shanks: He seems to be the most favorable towards the Government. Many higher ups even RESPECT the guy, and I do not mean fear. He is civil to them and doesn't look for trouble.
- Big Mom: She has her territory, barely comes out of it unless provoked and mainly fights against other pirates.
- Kaido: This one is the only debatable case. He is a warmonger who will fight whomever crosses his path. Yet his base is located on an unaffiliated country, far from the government's sphere and fights pirates all the time.
On the other hand, the Revolutionaries are breaking havoc IN AFFILIATED COUNTRIES, the ones who are providing money, manpower and resources to the Celestial Dragons.
If you are a man of business you will see the merits of having figures like the Yonko. Not so much the revolutionaries who are incredibly dangerous to your economical/political might
Let's see some of the Yonko relationships towards the Navy and WG. I will not include BB because he is part of the new age
- Whitebeard: He mainly didn't mess with the Navy and as we saw in Flashbacks he was even content avoiding them. Yes, there's the Ace episode, but that was an exception.
- Shanks: He seems to be the most favorable towards the Government. Many higher ups even RESPECT the guy, and I do not mean fear. He is civil to them and doesn't look for trouble.
- Big Mom: She has her territory, barely comes out of it unless provoked and mainly fights against other pirates.
- Kaido: This one is the only debatable case. He is a warmonger who will fight whomever crosses his path. Yet his base is located on an unaffiliated country, far from the government's sphere and fights pirates all the time.
On the other hand, the Revolutionaries are breaking havoc IN AFFILIATED COUNTRIES, the ones who are providing money, manpower and resources to the Celestial Dragons.
If you are a man of business you will see the merits of having figures like the Yonko. Not so much the revolutionaries who are incredibly dangerous to your economical/political might