Difference between revisions of "Minnesotan Confederacy"

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 13: Line 13:
 
! align=center colspan=2 ''' | <small>Anthem: ''[[Wikipedia:Hail! Minnesota|Hail! Minnesota]]''</small>
 
! align=center colspan=2 ''' | <small>Anthem: ''[[Wikipedia:Hail! Minnesota|Hail! Minnesota]]''</small>
 
|-
 
|-
| align=center colspan=2 style="background:#f9f9f9;" | http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d78/error_macro/MNC.png
+
| align=center colspan=2 style="background:#f9f9f9;" | [http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d78/error_macro/MN_big.png <small>Map</small>]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|'''[[Wikipedia:Capital|Capital]]''' || [[Neo-Minneapolis]] (6,976,900)
 
|'''[[Wikipedia:Capital|Capital]]''' || [[Neo-Minneapolis]] (6,976,900)
Line 64: Line 64:
 
'''The United Empire of the Minnesotan Confederacy''' is an [[Wikipedia:Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchy]] located in the [[Wikipedia:Midwestern United States|Midwest]], and comprised of the following [[Wikipedia:U.S. state|state]]s: [[Wikipedia:Minnesota|Minnesota]], [[Wikipedia:North Dakota|North Dakota]], [[Wikipedia:South Dakota|South Dakota]], [[Wikipedia:Nebraska|Nebraska]], [[Wikipedia:Kansas|Kansas]], [[Wikipedia:Iowa|Iowa]], [[Wikipedia:Missouri|Missouri]], [[Wikipedia:Illinois|Illinois]], [[Wikipedia:Wisconsin|Wisconsin]], [[Wikipedia:Michigan|Michigan]], [[Wikipedia:Indiana|Indiana]], [[Wikipedia:Ohio|Ohio]], [[Wikipedia:Kentucky|Kentucky]], [[Wikipedia:West Virginia|West Virginia]], [[Wikipedia:Maryland|Maryland]], [[Wikipedia:Hawaii|Hawaii]], and [[Wikipedia:Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]] (note: Puerto Rico was granted [[Wikipedia:U.S. state|statehood]]). In addition, [[Wikipedia:Liberia|Liberia]], the [[Wikipedia:Philippines|Philippines]], and the Minnesotan Confederate Outlying Islands (comprised of [[Wikipedia:United States Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands]], [[Wikipedia:Navassa Island|Navassa Island]], [[Wikipedia:American Samoa|American Samoa]], [[Wikipedia:Guam|Guam]], [[Wikipedia:Northern Mariana Islands|Northern Mariana Islands]], [[Wikipedia:Marshall Islands|Marshall Islands]], [[Wikipedia:Palau|Palau]], [[Wikipedia:Federated States of Micronesia|Micronesia]], [[Wikipedia:Baker Island|Baker Island]], [[Wikipedia:Howland Island|Howland Island]], [[Wikipedia:Jarvis Island|Jarvis Island]], [[Wikipedia:Johnston Atoll|Johnston Atoll]], [[Wikipedia:Kingman Reef|Kingman Reef]], [[Wikipedia:Midway Atoll|Midway Atoll]], [[Wikipedia:Navassa Island|Navassa Island]] , [[Wikipedia:Palmyra Atoll|Palmyra Atoll]], and [[Wikipedia:Wake Island|Wake Island]]) are self-governing Commonwealth Realms that acknowledge [[J.L. I|Kaiser J.L. I]] as sovereign. While the Minnesotan Confederacy is an [[Wikipedia:Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] [[Wikipedia:Single-party state|single-party state]] that never holds [[Wikipedia:Election|election]]s, the [[Wikipedia:Government|government]] is highly [[Wikipedia:Decentralization|decentralized]] and almost completely free of [[Wikipedia:Corruption|corruption]]. Most [[Wikipedia:Civil liberties|civil liberties]] are fully protected, on paper and in practice, by the government; however, even the remotest semblance of [[Wikipedia:Dissent|dissent]] is [[Wikipedia:Political repression|ruthlessly smashed]]. The Minnesotan Confederacy has a robust [[Wikipedia:Free market|free-market]] [[Wikipedia:Economic system|economy]] characterized by tremendous annual [[Wikipedia:Economic growth|growth]], minimal [[Wikipedia:Inflation|inflation]], a favorable balance of [[Wikipedia:Trade|trade]], and huge budgetary [[Wikipedia:Surplus|surplus]]es. The nation is a prominent actor on the [[Wikipedia:Global politics|world stage]].
 
'''The United Empire of the Minnesotan Confederacy''' is an [[Wikipedia:Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchy]] located in the [[Wikipedia:Midwestern United States|Midwest]], and comprised of the following [[Wikipedia:U.S. state|state]]s: [[Wikipedia:Minnesota|Minnesota]], [[Wikipedia:North Dakota|North Dakota]], [[Wikipedia:South Dakota|South Dakota]], [[Wikipedia:Nebraska|Nebraska]], [[Wikipedia:Kansas|Kansas]], [[Wikipedia:Iowa|Iowa]], [[Wikipedia:Missouri|Missouri]], [[Wikipedia:Illinois|Illinois]], [[Wikipedia:Wisconsin|Wisconsin]], [[Wikipedia:Michigan|Michigan]], [[Wikipedia:Indiana|Indiana]], [[Wikipedia:Ohio|Ohio]], [[Wikipedia:Kentucky|Kentucky]], [[Wikipedia:West Virginia|West Virginia]], [[Wikipedia:Maryland|Maryland]], [[Wikipedia:Hawaii|Hawaii]], and [[Wikipedia:Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]] (note: Puerto Rico was granted [[Wikipedia:U.S. state|statehood]]). In addition, [[Wikipedia:Liberia|Liberia]], the [[Wikipedia:Philippines|Philippines]], and the Minnesotan Confederate Outlying Islands (comprised of [[Wikipedia:United States Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands]], [[Wikipedia:Navassa Island|Navassa Island]], [[Wikipedia:American Samoa|American Samoa]], [[Wikipedia:Guam|Guam]], [[Wikipedia:Northern Mariana Islands|Northern Mariana Islands]], [[Wikipedia:Marshall Islands|Marshall Islands]], [[Wikipedia:Palau|Palau]], [[Wikipedia:Federated States of Micronesia|Micronesia]], [[Wikipedia:Baker Island|Baker Island]], [[Wikipedia:Howland Island|Howland Island]], [[Wikipedia:Jarvis Island|Jarvis Island]], [[Wikipedia:Johnston Atoll|Johnston Atoll]], [[Wikipedia:Kingman Reef|Kingman Reef]], [[Wikipedia:Midway Atoll|Midway Atoll]], [[Wikipedia:Navassa Island|Navassa Island]] , [[Wikipedia:Palmyra Atoll|Palmyra Atoll]], and [[Wikipedia:Wake Island|Wake Island]]) are self-governing Commonwealth Realms that acknowledge [[J.L. I|Kaiser J.L. I]] as sovereign. While the Minnesotan Confederacy is an [[Wikipedia:Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] [[Wikipedia:Single-party state|single-party state]] that never holds [[Wikipedia:Election|election]]s, the [[Wikipedia:Government|government]] is highly [[Wikipedia:Decentralization|decentralized]] and almost completely free of [[Wikipedia:Corruption|corruption]]. Most [[Wikipedia:Civil liberties|civil liberties]] are fully protected, on paper and in practice, by the government; however, even the remotest semblance of [[Wikipedia:Dissent|dissent]] is [[Wikipedia:Political repression|ruthlessly smashed]]. The Minnesotan Confederacy has a robust [[Wikipedia:Free market|free-market]] [[Wikipedia:Economic system|economy]] characterized by tremendous annual [[Wikipedia:Economic growth|growth]], minimal [[Wikipedia:Inflation|inflation]], a favorable balance of [[Wikipedia:Trade|trade]], and huge budgetary [[Wikipedia:Surplus|surplus]]es. The nation is a prominent actor on the [[Wikipedia:Global politics|world stage]].
  
==History==
+
==Population==
===Roots of secession===
+
===Ethnic Demographics===
====The Great Depression====
+
One of the Minnesotan Confederacy's finest assets, it is almost universally agreed, is its rich diversity of unique and wondrous cultures, a blend of West, East, North, and South, all converging in a single nation, and working together in harmonious coexistence to build a great nation. While the majority of the nation's population (just under 90$) is [[Wikipedia:White (people)|white]], many minority groups have a large presence, as well, particularly [[Wikipedia:African American|African American]]s, both [[Wikipedia:Black (people)|black]] people whose families have been in the country for centuries as well as new arrivals, most notably [[Wikipedia:Somali people|Somali]] refugees. [[Wikipedia:Southeast Asia|Southeast Asia]]n refugees are also a sizable minority, especially [[Wikipedia:Hmong people|Hmong]]; the Minnesotan Confederacy does, in fact, one of the largest Hmong populations in the world. Also prevalent are immigrants from [[Wikipedia:Vietnam|Vietnam]], [[Wikipedia:Laos|Laos]], and [[Wikipedia:Cambodia|Cambodia]]. [[Wikipedia:Hispanic America|Hispanic]]s (especially [[Wikipedia:Demographics of Mexico|Mexican]]s), [[Wikipedia:Native Americans|Native American]]s, and other groups are present, as well. Remarkably, for such a diverse nation, racism is very rare. Skin color is usually the last thing a person notices when he meets someone else, and interracial dating and marriage are quite common. The bulk of the population is warmly receptive to immigrants, whatever their country of origin, and immensely proud of the nation's diversity.
Secessionist tendencies first began to bubble shortly after the [[Wikipedia:Wall Street Crash of 1929|Great Crash]] devastated the [[Wikipedia:Economy of the United States|economy]] of the [[Wikipedia:United States|United States]]. As bumbling bureaucrats conceived a string of half-baked plans riddled with fallacies, and [[Wikipedia:Washington, D.C.|Washington]]'s meddling in the economy grew ever greater, the economy went into free-fall, and continued to decline at an alarming rate. Disgusted with the ineptitude and "[[Wikipedia:Socialism|creeping socialism]]" of the [[Wikipedia:Federal government of the United States|federal government]], many Minnesotans started or joined pro-independence Minnesotan nationalist parties and began to clamor for Minnesota's secession from the [[Wikipedia:United States|Union]]. A [[Wikipedia:1931|1931]] poll indicated that support for secession ran as high as 67%, with only 13% opposed and 20% undecided. State-wide elections were held in [[Wikipedia:1932|1932]], and the pro-independence Minnesotan Freedom and Independence Party won an overwhelming majority of seats in both the [[Wikipedia:Minnesota House of Representatives|House]] and [[Wikipedia:Minnesota Senate|Senate]], and the party president, Ian Gibbs, became [[Wikipedia:Governor of Minnesota|governor]]. A resolution calling for "immediate, complete, and unconditional independence" was drafted, but Governor Gibbs told his colleagues to "wait and see" how the [[Wikipedia:United States presidential election, 1932|presidential election]] went before making a "rash decision." To their chagrin, the [[Wikipedia:Left-wing politics|left-of-center]] [[Wikipedia:Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin D. Roosevelt]] [[Wikipedia:Election_of_1932#Results|won by a landslide]].
+
  
====A private little war====
+
===Age Distribution===
One of Roosevelt's first actions as [[Wikipedia:President of the United States|President]] was to denounce Minnesota as a "[[Wikipedia:Rogue state|rogue state]]." "We will not allow these [[Wikipedia:Reactionary|reactionary]] crackpots to disrupt the unity of our nation," F.D.R. warned. "Any attempt by the State of Minnesota to secede from this Union will be dealt with in the strictest fashion necessary." Few heeded his words, and most Minnesotans scoffed at what they considered to be an empty threat. However, they learned soon enough that the President was not joking at all. When, on [[Wikipedia:May 19|May 19]], [[Wikipedia:1933|1933]], Governor Gibbs signed the Minnesota Secession Act, F.D.R. deployed 18,000 soldiers of the [[Wikipedia:United States Army|U.S. Army]] to "restore order." The Minnesotans, confronted with a daunting foe bent on their annihilation, faced their imminent destruction without fear, and fought the invaders with all their heart and soul. Their [[Wikipedia:Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] tactics were, for a time, highly successful. However, four months later, in desperation, the Army resorted to [[Wikipedia:Scorched earth|scorched earth]] [[Wikipedia:Military tactics|tactics]], such as [[Wikipedia:Carpet bombing|carpet bombing]] cities, depriving rural areas of food supplies, and imprisoning thousands in [[Wikipedia:Concentration camp|concentration camp]]s. After seven months of brutal warfare, at a total cost of more than 700,000 Minnesotan lives and the destruction of 65% of Minnesota's economy, the "skirmish," as F.D.R. euphemistically dubbed it, was over. It would be more than fifteen years for the fires of secession to burn in the hearts of Minnesotans again.
+
Minnesota's diversity is not limited to ethnic background. There is also great diversity in age. About half the population is under 35, while approximately half is 35 or older. Children (those between the ages of 0 and 18) make up 29.7% of the population. Young adults (19-34) make up 21.7%. Middle-aged people (35-64) make up a sizable portion of the nation, at 38.6%. Finally, senior citizens (those aged 65 or older) make up 12.1%. It should be noted that infant mortality is extremely low, while life expectancy and standard of living are quite high. It is not unheard of for a person to remain in peak condition in his mid-70s, or for a person to live past the age of 90. Health care is 100% privatized and profit-driven, ensuring that ample competition exists, giving people a wide variety of choices, and ensuring that only those who can provide the highest quality and most affordable health care stay in business. For the few who cannot afford health care, private charities and individual citizens' generosity ensure that everyone is provided for.
  
====The Second World War====
+
===Religion===
Prior to the [[Wikipedia:Attack on Pearl Harbor|attack]] on [[Wikipedia:Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]] on [[Wikipedia:December 7|December 7]], [[Wikipedia:1941|1941]], the vast majority of Minnesotans opposed [[Wikipedia:United States|American]] involvement in [[Wikipedia:World War II|World War II]], preferring instead that [[Wikipedia:United States|the U.S.]] remain [[Wikipedia:Neutral country|neutral]]. After the [[Wikipedia:1930s|1930s]] Minnesotan War of Independence (as it was called in Minnesota; in [[Wikipedia:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]] it was called the "private little war"), few if any Minnesotans trusted [[Wikipedia:Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]], and few had any desire to send their sons to die for "that dirty [[Wikipedia:Fascism|fascist]] bastard" in the event that war came. When war did indeed come, most Minnesotans supported [[Wikipedia:United States|American]] involvement, but not Minnesotan involvement. Though none sympathized with [[Wikipedia:Fascism|fascism]] or the [[Wikipedia:Axis Powers|Axis Powers]], they opposed Minnesotan involvement for two reasons: A) Minnesota itself had not been attacked; and B) Antipathy toward [[Wikipedia:Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]]. While thousands of Minnesotans voluntarily joined the [[Wikipedia:Military of the United States|U.S. military]], the Minnesotan government openly refused to comply with [[Wikipedia:Conscription in the United States|the draft]], said it did not apply to Minnesota, and said that only volunteers would enlist. While [[Wikipedia:Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] threatened to "destroy utterly" Minnesota, he did not have the resources to do so, as the entire military was occupied fighting the [[Wikipedia:Axis Powers|Axis]] [[Wikipedia:Nation-state|nation]]s. Most Minnesotan men stayed in Minnesota, openly defying the [[Wikipedia:Federal government of the United States|federal government]] and earning the ire of most Americans but the admiration of most Minnesotans. When, on [[Wikipedia:April 12|April 12]], [[Wikipedia:1945|1945]], [[Wikipedia:Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] died of a [[Wikipedia:Stroke|stroke]], a national holiday was declared, and the entire state celebrated.
+
More than 8 in 10 Minnesotans adhere to the [[Wikipedia:Christianity|Christian faith]]. About 6 in 10 Minnesotans are [[Wikipedia:Protestantism|Protestant]], and 1 in 4 are [[Wikipedia:Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]s. 15% follow no religion, and 1% are followers of a religion other than Christianity; of these, most are [[Wikipedia:Judaism|Jewish]], [[Wikipedia:Buddhism|Buddhist]], or [[Wikipedia:Islam|Muslim]]. It should be noted that while most people who follow other religions are foreign-born, a great number of foreigners have also converted to Christianity. The Minnesotan Confederacy permits complete religious freedom, and churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques abound and are often filled to their capacity. The state's religious demographics are as follows: [[Wikipedia:Lutheranism|Lutheran]] 26%; [[Wikipedia:Baptist|Baptist]] 5%; [[Wikipedia:Methodism|Methodist]] 4%; [[Wikipedia:Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] 3%; other Protestant 20%; Roman Catholic 25%; other Christian 1%; other religion 1%; and not religious/[[Wikipedia:Agnosticism|Agnostic]] 15%.
  
====After the war====
+
==Culture==
[[Wikipedia:Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]]'s successor, [[Wikipedia:Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]], continued his predecessor's beligerent policy toward Minnesota. He denounced the denizens of the state as "seditious sons of bitches who would have proudly kissed [[Wikipedia:Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s [[Wikipedia:Anus|ass]] if given the chance," expressed regret that more Minnesotans had not died in the "private little war," and imposed punitive sanctions on Minnesota, devastating its economy. Unemployment, infant mortality, and inflation skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, crime became endemic, homeless people appeared on almost every street corner, and marital strife tore apart untold numbers of families. [[Wikipedia:Harry S. Truman|Truman]] even had the [[Wikipedia:United States Army|United States Army]] blockade Minnesota and mine all its borders. This compounded the state's economic depression further still. Thousands starved to death, inflation reached 10,000%, nearly half of the work force was unemployed, conditions in cities were near anarchic due to rampant street crime, and thousands of children were forced to work in sweatshops or as prostitutes to help their families survive. Whatever reservations they may have had before, most Americans openly sympathized with Minnesota, and some even began to call for their own states to secede.
+
<small>''note:'' As Minnesotans are a majority in each of the states due to mass migration, this applies to each state in MC, but not Commonwealth realms.</small>
  
Minnesota tried fruitlessly to negotiate with the [[Wikipedia:Federal government of the United States|federal government]], but to no avail. In fact, the more concessions Minnesota offered, the more intransigent [[Wikipedia:Harry S. Truman|Truman]] became, and the more he repressed the state. With no alternatives, faced with total destruction, on [[Wikipedia:June 8|June 8]], [[Wikipedia:1949|1949]], Minnesota announced its secession from the [[Wikipedia:United States|United States of America]].
+
Minnesotans are, on the whole, a charitable, friendly, compassionate lot. In fact, the friendliness of Minnesotans is so legendary, it gave rise to the term "Minnesota nice." Minnesotans, for example, will often do their best to help a lost traveler, by either giving him thoroughly detailed directions, or sometimes even drawing the visitor a map. A large percentage of Minnesotans donate to private charities, put aside their own interests to help others (for example, if there was a vaccine shortage, one might willingly give up his own injection and let someone else have it). Family ties are also strong, and Minnesotan families are known for their endurance, closeness, toughness, and commitment to stick together and help and love their fellow family members, no matter how odd or dysfunctional some may be. Community ties are also strong, and many Minnesotans volunteer in their neighborhoods, socialize with their neighbors, and cooperate together on such issues as crime prevention, child safety, and environmentalism. Minnesotans are a jovial, pleasant sort, and smile and laugh easily, which often helps ease tension or helps visitors feel welcome. However, Minnesotans are also known for their rather reckless driving, and for displaying aggressive attitudes on the road. Minnesotans are also known for their distinctive [[Wikipedia:American_English_regional_differences#Midwest|Midwestern]] accents, fondness for such outdoor activities as hunting, ice fishing, and fishing, and words such as "hot dish" (casserole) and "uff-da" (the equivalent of "phew!").
  
The stage was set for the Second American Civil War.
+
[[Category:Nations]]
 
+
[[Category:Minnesotan Confederacy]]
===The Second Civil War===
+
Within ten days, the following [[Wikipedia:U.S. state|state]]s announced that, in support of Minnesota and in protest against [[Wikipedia:Federal government of the United States|Washington, D.C.]], they would henceforth secede from the [[Wikipedia:United States|Union]] and become independent states: [[Wikipedia:North Dakota|North Dakota]], [[Wikipedia:South Dakota|South Dakota]], [[Wikipedia:Nebraska|Nebraska]], [[Wikipedia:Kansas|Kansas]], [[Wikipedia:Iowa|Iowa]], [[Wikipedia:Missouri|Missouri]], [[Wikipedia:Illinois|Illinois]], [[Wikipedia:Wisconsin|Wisconsin]], [[Wikipedia:Michigan|Michigan]], [[Wikipedia:Indiana|Indiana]], [[Wikipedia:Ohio|Ohio]], [[Wikipedia:Kentucky|Kentucky]], [[Wikipedia:West Virginia|West Virginia]], [[Wikipedia:Maryland|Maryland]]. Exasperated and livid, [[Wikipedia:Harry S. Truman|Truman]] declared war on each of the newly independent states individually, and mobilized the entire [[Wikipedia:Military of the United States|U.S. military]], and launched invasions of the secessionist states. Refusing to attack their "sister states," the [[Wikipedia:U.S. state|state]]s of the [[Wikipedia:Southern United States|South]] ([[Wikipedia:Texas|Texas]], [[Wikipedia:Arkansas|Arkansas]], [[Wikipedia:Louisiana|Louisiana]], [[Wikipedia:Tennessee|Tennessee]], [[Wikipedia:Mississippi|Mississippi]], [[Wikipedia:Alabama|Alabama]], [[Wikipedia:Virginia|Virginia]], [[Wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]], [[Wikipedia:South Carolina|South Carolina]], [[Wikipedia:Georgia|Georgia]], and [[Wikipedia:Florida|Florida]]) simultaneously seceded, and united into a nation called Kahta.
+

Revision as of 00:44, 21 May 2006

This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author.
Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions.
Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page.

United Empire of the Minnesotan Confederacy
MN_flag.png MN_seal.png
Flag and Coat of Arms of Minnesotan Confederacy

Motto: L'Étoile du Nord.
Anthem: Hail! Minnesota
Map
Capital Neo-Minneapolis (6,976,900)
Spoken Languages
 - Official
 - Unofficial

English
Spanish, Hmong, Somali
Government

 - Kaiser
 - Chancellor
 - Ruling party
· Absolute monarchy
· Free-market capitalist state

His Imperial Majesty J.L. I
Calvin Cyprian, Jr.
Minnesotan Patriot Party
Establishment
 - joined Union
 - seceded
 - formed confederation
 - became a monarchy
 
May 11, 1858
June 8, 1949
June 23, 1965
October 3, 1985
Area
 - Total
 - % water

2,423,070 km²
7.027%
Population
 - Total (2006)

80,757,865
GDP
  - Total (USD)
  - GDP/capita (USD)

$22,934,825,655,795.91
$68,702.81
National animal
English name
Gavia immer
Common Loon
National flower
English name
Cypripedium reginae
Showy lady slipper
National tree
English name
Pinus resinosa
Norway Pine
Currency 1 dollar ($) = 100 cents (¢)
Time Zone(s) Central: UTC-6/-5 - Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Int'l Abbreviations
 - sport
 - government

MIN
MIN, MNC
Naval Craft Classification
  - Military
  - Civilian

MCS
MCV
Internet TLD .mn, .mc
Calling Code +1

The United Empire of the Minnesotan Confederacy is an absolute monarchy located in the Midwest, and comprised of the following states: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico (note: Puerto Rico was granted statehood). In addition, Liberia, the Philippines, and the Minnesotan Confederate Outlying Islands (comprised of Virgin Islands, Navassa Island, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Palau, Micronesia, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Navassa Island , Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island) are self-governing Commonwealth Realms that acknowledge Kaiser J.L. I as sovereign. While the Minnesotan Confederacy is an authoritarian single-party state that never holds elections, the government is highly decentralized and almost completely free of corruption. Most civil liberties are fully protected, on paper and in practice, by the government; however, even the remotest semblance of dissent is ruthlessly smashed. The Minnesotan Confederacy has a robust free-market economy characterized by tremendous annual growth, minimal inflation, a favorable balance of trade, and huge budgetary surpluses. The nation is a prominent actor on the world stage.

Population

Ethnic Demographics

One of the Minnesotan Confederacy's finest assets, it is almost universally agreed, is its rich diversity of unique and wondrous cultures, a blend of West, East, North, and South, all converging in a single nation, and working together in harmonious coexistence to build a great nation. While the majority of the nation's population (just under 90$) is white, many minority groups have a large presence, as well, particularly African Americans, both black people whose families have been in the country for centuries as well as new arrivals, most notably Somali refugees. Southeast Asian refugees are also a sizable minority, especially Hmong; the Minnesotan Confederacy does, in fact, one of the largest Hmong populations in the world. Also prevalent are immigrants from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Hispanics (especially Mexicans), Native Americans, and other groups are present, as well. Remarkably, for such a diverse nation, racism is very rare. Skin color is usually the last thing a person notices when he meets someone else, and interracial dating and marriage are quite common. The bulk of the population is warmly receptive to immigrants, whatever their country of origin, and immensely proud of the nation's diversity.

Age Distribution

Minnesota's diversity is not limited to ethnic background. There is also great diversity in age. About half the population is under 35, while approximately half is 35 or older. Children (those between the ages of 0 and 18) make up 29.7% of the population. Young adults (19-34) make up 21.7%. Middle-aged people (35-64) make up a sizable portion of the nation, at 38.6%. Finally, senior citizens (those aged 65 or older) make up 12.1%. It should be noted that infant mortality is extremely low, while life expectancy and standard of living are quite high. It is not unheard of for a person to remain in peak condition in his mid-70s, or for a person to live past the age of 90. Health care is 100% privatized and profit-driven, ensuring that ample competition exists, giving people a wide variety of choices, and ensuring that only those who can provide the highest quality and most affordable health care stay in business. For the few who cannot afford health care, private charities and individual citizens' generosity ensure that everyone is provided for.

Religion

More than 8 in 10 Minnesotans adhere to the Christian faith. About 6 in 10 Minnesotans are Protestant, and 1 in 4 are Roman Catholics. 15% follow no religion, and 1% are followers of a religion other than Christianity; of these, most are Jewish, Buddhist, or Muslim. It should be noted that while most people who follow other religions are foreign-born, a great number of foreigners have also converted to Christianity. The Minnesotan Confederacy permits complete religious freedom, and churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques abound and are often filled to their capacity. The state's religious demographics are as follows: Lutheran 26%; Baptist 5%; Methodist 4%; Presbyterian 3%; other Protestant 20%; Roman Catholic 25%; other Christian 1%; other religion 1%; and not religious/Agnostic 15%.

Culture

note: As Minnesotans are a majority in each of the states due to mass migration, this applies to each state in MC, but not Commonwealth realms.

Minnesotans are, on the whole, a charitable, friendly, compassionate lot. In fact, the friendliness of Minnesotans is so legendary, it gave rise to the term "Minnesota nice." Minnesotans, for example, will often do their best to help a lost traveler, by either giving him thoroughly detailed directions, or sometimes even drawing the visitor a map. A large percentage of Minnesotans donate to private charities, put aside their own interests to help others (for example, if there was a vaccine shortage, one might willingly give up his own injection and let someone else have it). Family ties are also strong, and Minnesotan families are known for their endurance, closeness, toughness, and commitment to stick together and help and love their fellow family members, no matter how odd or dysfunctional some may be. Community ties are also strong, and many Minnesotans volunteer in their neighborhoods, socialize with their neighbors, and cooperate together on such issues as crime prevention, child safety, and environmentalism. Minnesotans are a jovial, pleasant sort, and smile and laugh easily, which often helps ease tension or helps visitors feel welcome. However, Minnesotans are also known for their rather reckless driving, and for displaying aggressive attitudes on the road. Minnesotans are also known for their distinctive Midwestern accents, fondness for such outdoor activities as hunting, ice fishing, and fishing, and words such as "hot dish" (casserole) and "uff-da" (the equivalent of "phew!").