The Great Socialist People's American Cogendist Snowstalkeriya is officially a democratic republic, but effectively a one-party State dominated by the National Cogendist Party and its Supreme Leader, Admiral-General Gabe "The Babe" Snowstalker. Snowstalker took power in the 2030s after a brutal economic crisis brought America to its knees and ushered in massive unemployment and poverty. Promising to "relentlessly fight for the working class and against the special interests of corrupt banksters" and appealing to social conservatives and racists with a series of remarks on the excessive importance given to "uteruses" and "minorities", Snowstalker gained massive popular support in the poorest States and in the Bible Belt. After narrowly losing to the Democratic candidate Averroës in 2032, The Babe organized his party as a full-fledged paramilitary organization, establishing the SQUADRE (Sections in Quartering for the Ultimate Annihilation of the Democratic and Republican Establishment). In early 2036, as political violence had reached unprecedented height, the SQUADRE marched on Washington and forced President Averroës to resign. Snowstalker, who in the meantime had arranged to be appointed Vice-President, finally took over.
With solid NCP majorities in both Houses of Congress following the 2034 midterms, Snowstalker set out to enact his sweeping agenda. His first act was to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour and imposing a 99% wealth tax on the 1000 wealthiest Americans. When the SCOTUS struck that bill down, he passed a court-packing bill that expanded its size to 30, allowing him to nominate the 21 new Justices. The wealth tax was passed once again, this time raised to 101% ("that'll show'em", the President commented"), and used to finance a massive expansion of the welfare state, with universal health care and 100% unemployment benefits. These measures made President Snowstalker extremely popular among struggling Americans (unemployment was over 30%, and nearly half the workers were on minimum wage). Along with a bit of vote-rigging, they allowed The Babe to win reelection with 64% of the votes and to hold two-third majorities in both Houses of Congress.
When the election results were known, it was clear America would never be the same again. Several democratic politicians (such as Senator Antonio V of California, Senator Gaël l'Hermine of Vermont, governor Goldwater of Washington, governor Kalwejt of Minnesota, or political columnist/satirist Oakvale of Massachusetts) realized that something had to be done. Between November 2036 and April 2037, 21 States had officially seceded from the Union. Snowstalker's reaction was brutal: he immediately passed the 28th Amendment, which gave the President unlimited powers in situations were "national unity is in peril", and summoned a large army (integrating the former SQUADRE) to crush the rebellion. The national guards of seceding States attempted to put up a fight, but all hope seemed lost until an international coalition made of French, Canadian, Italian, Polish, Irish, British and German troops, summoned by anti-Snowstalker politicians with ties to these countries came to the rescue. While some rebellious States were defeated and forced to rejoin the Union, several independent countries formed themselves under the protection of the coalition. Meanwhile, President Snowstalker had the "Final Amendment" passed, which proclaimed the end of the "Bourgeois, capitalist 1787 Constitution" and summoned a Cogendist Constitutional Convention (or CoCoCo). Though it was nominally elected by popular vote, candidates associated with "treasonous parties" were barred from running, resulting in the NCP winning 100% of the seats. The new constitution proclaimed the new Cogendist State.
A map of the former USA by 2040:
Great Socialist People's American Cogendist SnowstalkeriyaRepublic of CascadiaNortheastern FederationFree State of LibertaliaIndependent StatesThe GSPACS is now run under the iron fist of the Supreme Leader, who is in place for life and holds all the effective power (though a single-party "People's Congress" rubber-stamps his decisions). It has an extensive welfare state, but political freedoms are nonexistent and the economy is still in shambles following the war and ill-advised economic policies. Labor laws are nominally pro-union, but the only allowed union is the Cogendist Federation of Labor, effectively controlled by the State. Most industries are nationalized and horribly run. People with significant wealth (except administration officials) have their wealth confiscated and are sent into "reeducation camps". Socially speaking, it is also pretty authoritarian. Abortions and birth control are legal, but heavily discouraged on the basis that "uteruses don't matter". Women are instead encouraged to stay home in order to provide for the needs of "good working-class men". Friendzoning is a capital offense. Gay marriage is banned on the basis that it is a "wedge issue" (though there are laws against homophobia and discrimination). The power actively privileges Hispanics, but does nothing at for Blacks.
In short, it is quite a hellhole.
