Thresh
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| Flag of Thresh | |
| Motto: Through strength comes victory | |
| No Map Available | |
| Region | NGPV |
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| Capital | Grob |
| Official Language(s) | English, Threshian |
| Leader | Owen M. Drescht |
| Population | 25,000,000+ |
| Currency | Croubl |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Thresh
According to Nation States, the Republic of Thresh is "a small, pleasant nation, renowned for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion."
The Republic of Thresh is viewed by the UN as a "Inoffensive Centrist Democracy", noted for a strong economy and laudable personal freedoms, though when it comes to civil rights, Thresh is lacking.
Geography
The Republic of Thresh is located in the diverse terrain of NGPV, a small region known for fiercely loyal neighbors. Thresh is the eastern neighbor of Spreag, and lies north of Arrgyle. The landlocked nation is surrounded on the northern and western sides by the Free Land of Irish Sons and Victorious Dead, respectively. Although the tiny nation touches no oceans, the large freshwater lake, Lake Tortshell lies at the northern tip of the nation, and the mighty River Limbopa runs south towards the ocean. The eastern, more populated part is home to two of Thresh's three states, Thresh and Auric, and the southwestern, sparcely populated state of Elopia is a rough and unforgiving wasteland dotted with a few scattered metropolitan centers. Along the northern border runs a mountain range, and along the southeast are the deserts of the Arabian region. The southwest and west, however, are prime agricultural locations, and support much of the livestock and crops grown in Thresh, as well as housing the nations population centers. Climate within Thresh varies throughout, from the hot desert sands in the south to the cold icy tundra in the north. Elopia experiences both ends of the spectrum, while Auric is blessed with a mostly temperate plainsland. Thresh has little variation, as most of the land is a single city. Temperatures range from -10 C to 40 C on average, with rainfall at a mean of 1272 mm annually.
Agriculture
Auric grows all of Thresh's vegetation - Thresh is far too crowded, and Elopia is far too harsh - which it then distributes throughout the region. In recent years, Thresh has made an attempt to reclaim nature, with the creation of municipal rooftop farms that produce roughly 3% of the total food supply for Thresh.
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Energy
Elopia's windy deserts make it a prime source for wind-powered plants, and the mighty Limbopa is broken up by hydroelectric dams every few miles. These environmentally friendly energy sources are not enough, however, and every rooftop throughout Thresh has solar panels, which contribute to the 89% of Thresh's energy supply that is eco-friendly. The other 11% comes from the twin nuclear powerplants in the Elopian desert, Sentinel and Guardian.
Environment
Because of the diverse climate that Threshians are blessed with, and the environmentally minded choices the government as made in the way of power supply and agriculture, the Threshian ecosystem is stable and excelling.
Life in Thresh
Thresh
The state of Thresh is the political center of the Republic of Thresh, the small state being the location of the capital city of Grob, which takes up 32% of the total state area, and birthplace of twelve of the twenty Premiers in the past century. The entire state of Thresh is covered with landsaving skyscrapers, several of which have been joined together to create a feasible landspace for rooftop farms. Because of the lack of natural beauty, several architectural minds joined forces to create the Threshian Park Society, which has added seventeen large parks throughout the state, as well as putting a small forest in the center of the Grob Square, located in the exact center of the state of Thresh. Most of the nation's conservative leadership is headquartered in the state.
Auric
Auric, on the other hand, while having several metropolitan areas, is also home to 97% of the nations agricultural resources. The metropolitan areas are known for permiscuity and liberty, and were labeled the nation's "debauchery central" by the Thresh National News in 2007. The annual Civil Rights Parade is located in Auric's capital of New Terrabt, during which the week-long celebration of minorities and liberties is televised throughout the nation. The farms and agricultural centers, however, are home to simple-minded country folk who take joy in life's simple pleasures, as opposed to the opulence of the city.
Elopia
If Auric is known as "debauchery central", Elopia puts her neighbor to shame. The few metropolitan areas are known best for their gambling-, sex-, and drug-infused nightlife, while the vast deserts are home to the nation's six prisons, each one a work camp used to make productivity from criminals. In an effort to lengthen criminals lifespans and to increase the amount of usefulness the prison system got from their inmates, Elopia voted to outlaw the death penalty, except in cases of treason, in favor for life imprisonment. Between the cities and the prisons is little in the way of vegetation, the harsh desert climate leaving nothing but sand and deserted roads.
Transportation
The major cities of Thresh are linked by magnetic rail, upon which ride bullet trains that are most always on schedule. The maglev trains are vastly superior over convential rail; they are faster, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly. However, throughout the nation convential cars are in use, but more and more hybrid and pure electric cars are being purchased.
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Education
Students are enrolled in primary school at the age of five. Upon completion of their third year, they are seperated by a combination of factors - intelligence, aptitude, and motivation - through standardized testing into three tracks. The advanced track is for the best and brightest, the college-bound and the future leaders. The standard track is for the average Threshian, businessmen and office workers. The skill track is for the dimmest of bulbs, training for menial labor that forms the backbone of civilization - auto maintenance, factory workers, and the like. These tracks continue until the student completes their eleventh year of schooling, at which time an additional standardized test is administered for students in the advanced track. The highest scores go to Arrowhead, Threshian's best school, the others attend Lionhead, an excellent school but not quite Arrowhead. Students are taught English and Threshian, and their choice of Spanish, French, German or Italian.
Arrowhead University
The Arrowhead University, founded in 1581, has been the pillar of education and every child's dream school since its conception. Students are offered a wide array of choices and every student excells in the competitive, honor-driven atmosphere.
Lionhead College
The Lionhead College, founded in 1822 when Arrowhead was overflowing with students, has been often seen as playing second fiddle to the older and more respected Arrowhead. In the past century, however, Lionhead as begun to rival Arrowhead in prestige and education levels.
History
Early Thresh
The original Threshian Empire, which broke away from the motherland in 830 AD, traversed an expanse that would rival even the Macedonian's, though after barbarians stormed the capital during the Battle of Grob, the Threshian influence was severely weakened and several territories broke away to form their own sovereign nations. Although the Threshian Forces under the command of King Dreschen the Just defeated the barbarian horde, their losses were too great to reconquer their lost territory. Over time, the Threshian influence continued to wane during the rule of King Lorne the Unready, King Midian the Ill, and King Horace the Foolish. By the time a strong king came to power in 1215 AD, the Threshian rule expanded over a mere 300 sq km. This strong King, a direct descendant of King Dreschen the Just - as opposed to the descendants of other members of the royal family - reconquered the state of Auric, which he resorbed into the Threshian nation as a semi-sovereign state. King Dreschen the Brave, as he was known, then continued his campaign until the Threshian nation controlled roughly 15,000 sq km.
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Medieval Thresh
Unfortunately, all was not to last, as King Dreschen the Brave was murdered by his half-brother Stark the Usurper in 1232 AD, who managed to lose all of the newly conquered lands, save for the state of Auric. Stark's descendants ruled the small Threshian nation for the next 300 years, carrying a time of oppression and degradation with them. By the 1500s, the Threshian Empire was a dark land, a terrible home for sin and debauchery. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. After the Second Battle of Grob, Thresh was to experience the first revolution that its people had begun, led by the rightful heir to the throne, Groll Drescht.
The Revolution
Led by Groll Drescht, an army of 20,000 stormed the palace and captured King Orin the Wicked. Opting for exile rather than execution, Drescht banished Orin and his family to the far east, where he was never heard from again. Drescht then absolved the monarchy, an unpopular decision by the royal family, and instated a system where the Lords of Thresh and Auric would meet regularly to decide how to best govern the lands. The first taste of representative rule was given to Thresh by Drescht, a memory not forgotten in recent years.
The Drescht Era
Under the new Drescht Code, the land flourished, regaining much of her former strength and influence. The benevolent nobles saw their lands suffering, and fearing a revolution, began to give into the people's demands. However, squabbling often broke out between the noblemen during meetings, and Drescht guided them towards electing a leader who would resolve issues on which the group disagreed. During the Drescht Era, which lasted until 1804, the lost territory of Elopia was regained not through force, but through benevolent influence.
Democracy
In 1804, the people of Thresh, tired of noble rule, formed a constitution which they forced the nobles to sign similar to the manner in which nobles forced the king of England to sign the Magna Carta. This peaceful revolution was to be the first of many, for the document outlined the government that Thresh is currently ruled by, the first truly representative democracy to come to Thresh. Coincidentally, Groll Drescht's grandson, Mut Drescht, was the leader of the group which sought to overthrow the nobility.
Political and Economic Order
The Republic prides itself on its ability to self correct and to obey the will of the people. A small government, the Republic is meant to be a coalition of states with leaders that maintain equilibrium, rather attempt to inforce their personal agendas. Only when the people will it, should legislation be enacted.
Political
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The Republic's chief goal is to allow liberties to people without descending into anarchy, or worse, socialism.
The Republic is ruled by a council of two men - and occasionally women - from each of the three states which is presided over by the Premier. The Council is elected every two years, and the Premier is elected every six for a modicum of stability throughout the peaceful regime changes. This body acts primarily as the legislative branch of the government, but wears many hats. As legislation is meant to be written as little as often, the council also acts as the highest court in the land, hearing decisions from the state and city courts that are later appealed. In addition, the Council acts as the executive branch, enforcing the laws they create, as well as the decisions they make. The Council debates every action before it is taken, with the Premier available to cast the tie-breaking vote.
Decisions throughout the politicial process are decided by popular vote.
Economic
The people of Thresh, above all, desire a competitive marketplace and a strong economy. Foreign companies are subject to minimal tariffs to encourage the purchase of homegrown products; however, the people of Thresh value quality over cost, and often are willing to pay the extra cost if the product is superior. The marketplace is driven by simple supply-and-demand economics, and the government refuses to interfere. Although the people are taxed, it is never more than 15%, and the proceeds are used to fund government-supported programs, such as law enforcement, education, healthcare, and other necessary areas of spending.
Trade and Labor
The Republic of Thresh bears no ill will towards any nation, and refuses to engage in embargo as such an act would have a negative effect on their economy, and the world's economy. Thresh taxes incoming products lightly, to encourage a competitive atmosphere, and provides subsidies for companies located within Thresh that do not outsource. Thresh encourages employing citizens first through subsidies and legislation, and because of this, few immigrants enter the Threshian borders illegally.
