Elite separatism and the well-being of societies

    As Jared Diamond describes in his talk, and book, the social elite cannot afford to be 'elitist'; it has to be firmly integrated into the society in which it resides.  Otherwise, it will not associate its own interests to those of the community at large, something with horrific negative repercussions in the long run.  The Maya elite, for example, was so detached from the hunger of common citizens, that it did not have the incentive to act early enough or efficiently enough to break the numerous social problems which existed. Inversely, because the rich and poor of Holland lived below sea level, a dike's rupture in the middle of the twentieth century led to an immediate and effective response by the community.  Luis Muñoz Marin, perhaps unconsciously, perceived the importance of having both groups tied to one another, an example which has been forgotten in our day.  The 'alienation' of the elite is increasingly seen in Puerto Rico with the establishment of gated communities, a cause of concern for the common well-being in the future.