The elites are made up of two, well three types of people.
1. Old Riches, these are traditional white dominican families from the Cibao (mostly Santiago) that have their interest in agriculture and have been ruling this nation from it's inception! These people tend to value more their image and family values above their personal possesion, however, one must be aware that if you don't have the dough, you are not an elite. But, after the dough, it's not so much how big the account is, but how much respect people in the streets have for you and your family. This also applies to many other old riches across Latin America.
2. New Riches, these are non-traditional dominicans of all backgrounds that have managed to get their business into a booming gear. Many are baseball players, business owners, etc. People that have for the most part lived elsewhere, usually the U.S. As such, they come back with an American mentality of what an elite is about. So, the new riches drive the most expensive cars, live in the biggest houses, make the wildest and most elaborate parties, fly in super luxurious jets, etc. Many are not welcomed into the old riches circle for multiple reasons, the top one being image, lifestyle comes second, and how and when the riches were aquired comes in a distant third. Of course, these American influence folks don't see it that way and they keep spending like pigs and trying to get into the Santo Domingo Country Club but are rejected. Despite the Beantly.
3. These are what I call the Bad Riches or the Inferior Riches. These are dominicans that have made their fortunes through shady propositions. Hippo is the newest member of this club, along with the other cronies taking up office space in the National Palace. San Francisco de Macoris is notorious for it's super rich drug dealers who live in the lap of luxury that only exist in our dreams for many around the world. One time I manage to fly over San Francisco with my Friend in his jet and these houses look more like Palaces and they seemed impressive from the sky.
I must say that the rich should not ever have to worry about the problems of the poor or middle class. The ones that should worry about those problems are the peoples that make up those sections of society. The rich should only worry about problems that would affect them. This country would be better off if everybody stops complaining and nagging and begin to focus on their specialized fields. The poor, if they are really unhappy, then do something to get things done! The middle class, if they are unhappy, then do something to get things done! and the same goes for the rich. That way, society would function much more efficiently. The rich will maintain their corporate empires which gives much needed professional positions for the middle classes and unskilled labor for the poor classes. And people should simply forget about the Government!! The only time the Dominican Government was really pro-dominican was under the Trujillo Era and look at the tremendous side effects that had!! If everybody would simply take care of themselves, society will do the same because each and every single human that inhabits the eastern 2/3 of Hispaniola together make up that society. I hope so one sees what I am trying to say here!!
gre: :smoke: and tuna,a water well,a "Planta",and the means to protect them! So "Vota Blanca"