a brief new history, Part I

(pre-war map, from 2003.)

IN 2009 the population of USSL Island was estimated to be 30,706,404. 12,304,375 live South of the traditional North/South border; 18,402,029 live to the North. 8,452,607 live in USSL City proper; depending on the definition, between 10.8 - 11.1 million live in the greater USSL City area and 13.4 - 13.6 million live in the USSL City media market.

The revolutions of 1975 and 1977 resulted in a liberal, constitutional democracy that would endure until 2005, when war broke out between loyalist, nationalist, and Marxist-Leninist paramilitary groups. The war would last until February 2007, when nationalist and loyalist groups dissipated and the Marxist-Leninist paramilitary organization, led by Daniel Netanyahu and strongly supported by the Flat Grounds, took power. Netanyahu and his organization, then-called the People's Liberation Front, were able to establish a strong base of power in the dense urban area of USSL City, and used the eastern military base to serve as a resource center for military government of the South, which was always less receptive to the PLF and was a nationalist power base before the movement had to fold.

Once Netanyahu and the PLF gained power, they established a one-party state and formed the Communist Party of USSL Island, but opted to preserve freedom of press and of assembly. However, all major media is state-owned and operated and the internet serves as the lone outlet for independent news.

In March of 2007 Netanyahu ordered the heavy militarization of Mieske Province, located Southernmost on the mainland. The area is rich with agriculture and natural resources, such as silver and diamond. The area also is a well-documented center of drug growth, manufacture, and trade. It has been estimated that between $600 million [all figures USD] and $1.4 billion of drugs are exported from the area monthly, with the main exports being cocaine, heroin, and to a lesser extent, marijuana.

With the militarization of the area came increased drug production. As part of the Initial Decrees of February 2007, Netanyahu announced the legalization of all formerly controlled substances. The only authorized retailer of the 188 regulated substances is the State, which owns and operates 89 drug outlets throughout the Island. The State makes an estimated 400-600% profit on drug sales.

It has been heavily speculated, and some argue proven, that the directive to militarize the Mieske Province came from the Flat Grounds, and that much of the drug profits have been funneled into the Flat Grounds coffers. Because of this the Marxist government has been dubbed a narco-state.

Since the Communist considation of power in 2007, the wealth disparity between North and South, already large, has continued to grow. The South has remained heavily militarized since 2007, and entry to the North from the South has been heavily restricted if not outright prohibited. While the State has announced and broken ground on impressive infrastructure projects in the North, including a system of 33 universities (two of which will open in 2010) and a $9 billion high-speed rail system, the South has been granted no such investment, and the economy has imploded. Estimates of Northern economic growth since Feb 07 are between 18.2 and 20.6%; the median standard of living has grown 25 - 28%; and unemployment is below 2%. The Southern economy has been destroyed, declining between 17 and 30%, with the median standard of living down approximately 25%.