Ernest, I know that you asked for TW's opinions, but I will just give my two cents. I know TW will respond to your questions as well.
One question..........WHY? Why so many Dominicans in the USA?
Dominicans are all over the planet, literally, LOL. I have been to places where I would have never expected to find my compatriots, but THERE THEY ARE working one or two jobs trying to make a decent living. The US is the most attractive destination, no doubt about it. But to answer your question, it is like Anny so eloquently put it in a previous post, millions of people all over the world choose to live in places other than their own country for a number of reasons. You may enjoy DR's climate and a Dominican may want to earn more money in the US. In reality, there are other nationalities that outnumber Dominicans in the US, but we are definitely growing. I was even told that in NYC, we were starting to outnumber Puerto Ricans. Now, weren't there like 3 million Puerto Ricans in NY? I could be wrong.
Why are not these people in the DR trying to improve their homeland?
There are people in the DR (Dominicans) that are trying to make their homeland a better place. DR governments have been no help to the DR, but you have to give credit to the people that are contributing whatever thay can to create change. You are not going to hear about these people on this Board of course, but they are there - working with community organizations, members of civil society, working with international organizations, as well as grassroots and membership organizations, foundations, non-profits, religious organisms, you name it. Yours truly just co-founded a 501 C-3 organization and we will work with non-profits in the DR in the future. The USAID office in Santo Domingo has some really dedicated Dominicans (and I know them)working along with Americans in order to improve health and education in the DR. The question is not why aren't Dominicans trying to improve the homeland. Rather, it is BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE DR that we have managed to stay somewhat afloat, wheufff!
Why do so many Dominicans abandon their homeland, their culture, their family and friends and head North.
Dominicans are NOTORIOUS for transporting their culture anywhere they go. They may leave the DR [for economic reasons], but they NEVER abandon their homeland. Dominicans are truly a transnational community. No wonder other airlines want a piece of the DR market nowadays. Dominicans are always on a PLANE back to the DR any chance they get. Check out the JFK-SDQ route and you will know what I mean. AND they always have to be bringing stuff for their friends and family in the homeland and sending money via the remesas. Talk about having one foot in NY and another in the DR!!! LOL BUT WE ARE A STUBBORN PEOPLE. we refuse to abandon the homeland even if physically we choose to live somewhere else. I see other nationalities here in the US becoming fully integrated in the American life...NOT DOMINICANS. I actually advocate that Dominicans abandon their homeland a little. BECOME US CITIZENS!!! You see all these Dominicans living here in the US for decades and they still hold on to that FLAG. Enough of that, LOL! I see Indians becoming US citizens by the truckloads, why can't Dominicans do the same? I mean, it is not like once we become US citiznens we will forget how to dance merengue or something, LOL! Can you imagine if Dominicans practiced a little bit of abandonment? We would be two million strong in the US! We could have a voice, we could vote! We could even have some effect on US policy towards the DR...Ummmmm.
Come to think of it, I should have filed for US citizenship twenty years ago...oh well :-/
Warmest regards, Natasha