I have seen and heard this term " Third world " written and used a lot about DR . A brief historical review of the word comes out of the cold war when a country alligned themselves with NATO or USSR. If not, the country was Third world. Nine years ago I would have agreeded with the venacular use but now I don't. I prefer to use " Developing ". Its mostly a rural counrtry and an agricultural society but the tourist industry is number 1. Now it has many airports , highways which make commerce and travel less combersome. Still can't drink the water but the 911 system is going nationwide. Now there is a Metro in the south. I can't blame local people for hustling when they are working 6 days a week for a resort and gaining about 60 dollars a month.I know a lot of people prefer the old days and I am not trying to rob people of thier peaceful memories ( I have them myself ). Crime and curruption are universal which I will not address. If you keep calling a child stupid they will grow up thinking they are stupid. Nothing appears to stop tourists and ex pats from coming and contributing to the counrty's growth.The country is an asperant like me always trying to develope. Now I have 24 light in my town ( 2nd most expensive in the world ) . Its not perfect but it is developing and I perfer to use words that reflects reality not the standards that we left behind . Words matter. Developing does not egual perfect. Just a peception, one does not have to agree.