Impossible to predict until the country becomes independent once again by removing LF's puppet administration. Not everyone who emigrated is bitter, and I personally believe that a large influx of professional Dominican-Americans, who have somewhat of a more advanced mentality than their parents can turn the country around in no time.

i beg to differ with DominicanChic regarding the assertion that Dominican Americans can turn the country around "in no time". what aspects of the country do you refer to? surely, the economy cannot be turned around without a functioning energy sector. Leonel promised 12 years ago that he would fix the electricity sector, and it is worse today than it was then. secondly, the economy can never function at even close to optimally without a revamping of the education system. socially, the biggest problem is the extreme inequality in the distribution of wealth and opportunity. the country is a typical Latin american ex-colony, wherein a very few interconnected families own and control everything. the only way the society and economy will ever change is to expunge the stranglehold that the oligarchy holds over the society. the institutions which retard the development in the country are ingrained artifacts of the culture; corruption being the major offender. i am not optimistic that returning Dominican americans can do much; they can set up businesses which function more efficiently than those operated by locals. they will wear their seat belts, and obey the laws of the road. they will not run every red light. but these are minor, incremental, marginal issues, which have diminimus effect on the larger society. the overall culture will function in an equivalent fashion, as long as the same ruling classes continue to set the agenda.

Not to offend the dominican-americans, but I think that you're right on the money with this one, dread, because, last time I checked, Leonel is the quintessential successful dom-york, and he hasn't lifted a finger to change the traditional, backwards way in which things are done in our country.

ah, great insight from my beloved friend, Mr Lautaro. sadly, we see more evidence of returning residents compounding the felony; look at all the well to do ballplayers who simply hitch themselves to political bandwagons, roam around in their hummers from one car wash to another, and invest in questionable enterprises. i am sure that there are those who are exemplary by their deeds, but it appears that the majority have said; i cannot fix this. i might as well live large and enjoy it as it is. the complacency runs deep. maybe, while in america, they enjoy visions of returning home and making a change. this is all disrupted the first time the customs agent at the airport demands twenty dollars, or their possessions are jammed up at Caucedo until they pay the right guy. then they just relapse into resignation, saying "what the heck; pass the beer"

Though he spent his childhood here I'm not sure what professional success LF can claim in New York City that Lautaro would call him the 'quintessential Dom-York'. What Fortune 500 or multi-national corporations did he hold positions at? Did he litigate at any large NY law firms? Did he direct or serve for any large non-profits in NYC? Did he attain a commission in our state National Guard? Did he teach at or even attend a New York university? And to match dreadlock's assertions that Dom-Yorks may more often bring negativity I would ask did he run any notable crime organizations or play for any ballclubs in NYC or do time at one of our fine prisons ?

Not trying to detract from the guy, he can do that himself...but give me a break with LF as a quintessential Dom-York. I understand youth is a formative stage, and for what it is worth by comparison to an H. Mejia NYC did leave it's positive mark on LF. I think in the next couple decades we will see more of what DominicanChic prob meant, actual adult products of US business and institutions returning with capital and culture. ALONGSIDE the political leadership of younger homegrown DR generations whose own culture is already more influenced by the exterior than their parents I would hope the return of successful US Dominicans would be a boon. I think this process will accelerate markedly when/if Cuba returns to the capitalist column, as that will bring to the region a slew of new multinationals and capital.

In the end though the future of DR (and all our neighbors) is to be perpetually a peripheral, provincial place...but hopefully one that can eventually boast of stable governance and steady development over the decades.

Dear Chill,

as a foreigner I can promise you: the DR is NOT for rich foreigners, it is still run by the old DOMINICAN elite. If a foreigner brings enough dollars, he MIGHT buy his way in IF THEY LET HIM. If not he will just lose all that he has brought into this country.

But unless Dominicans become proactive in day to day politics, organize, mobilize and get involved in grass roots organizations what we will see is a reemergence of a new class or status quo. One that would be from abroad.

Unfortunately Dominicans are not a politically proactive people and they really have not had suffering in their souls to be moved spiritually politically and cohesively to change. Dominicans for the most part have been a peaceful people and prefer to continue to do live in the shadows of the status quo as long as they are permitted to travel to island bring their family goods and send their remittance.

manhattanite, when i use the term "compounding the felony", it is a figure of speech which has nothing to do with lawlessness, in this case. it simply means that they reinforce what is already there. i do not have to tell you that a major part of the problems in the DR find their genesis in the social construct; the country, like many other post-colonial societies, is owned by a small group of people, who direct the events. even Leonel cannot buck the tide; he takes his orders from on high. the same can be said even of the USA, where corporate america dictates policy, to a large degree. the ONLY way in which there will be meaningful change is if the oligarchs want it. the ruling triumvirate comprising the church, the forces of intimidation(police and military), and the owners of the country cannot be defeated by any measure short of a revolutionary uprising. it is as plain as that.

Dread I thought the problems of men arise because mankind is flawed. It's all a matter of degree as to how bad things are, but man will always muck things up. An uprising would be more trouble than it is worth and just trade one set of jerks for another. Like I said hopefully when Cuba gives up the communism charade there will be a region wide renaissance and Dominicans of all types take the opportunity to leap ahead economically and then in governance.

As for the LF comments just wanted to point out he is in no way the quintessential NYC Dominican-American as he did nothing of note as an adult in NYC of which I'm aware.