United States (Collectionverse)

The **United States** -- where Meridian, a city of the central state of Kansas is located in -- is the main setting of the *Collectionverse* stories.

Conditions in this America tend to be better than the America of the real world, as its leaders made smarter decisions that reduced poverty nationwide at the expense of various corporations' power.

## History

See also: Collectionverse timeline

In 1959, the fast food brand Frystle's was set up in Meridian.

In 1968, the Italian film Orlando Furioso became popular in the United States. Later, various fantasy-themed brands and franchises were established in the 1970s, from the boardgames of Griffulgar and Wicker and Wander Flame, to the scifi franchise of Kalendrica. Teraxyl was also founded at the start of that time.

In the 1970s, growing worries over corporate domination, racism, political corruption, and radicalism from social media (as predicted in several dystopian novels) led to an end to the two-party system in that America and a succession of social reforms. This, however, divided American society between a vast majority known as the "Great Consensus" and several radicalised minorities who were very hostile to the resulting society - some disliked it as being "too unChristian", some abhorred it for rejecting communism and anarchism, and still others saw it as hateful for being a society where Whites and Blacks actually cooperated. This social revolution is part of the Indigo Revolution, a series of social changes that affected many nations across that world, starting with Mexico.

In 1994, the city of Meridian was shaken by riots for three days, caused by religious and atheist extremists - among the last remnants of the radicals who tried to regain any form of power against the Great Consensus. This incident shocked the whole country. This led to greater condemnation of religious fundamentalism, and many associations were set up to aid in a massive deradicalisation campaign.

In 1998, the Anti-Monopoly Act was enacted, requiring people to set up a new business to prevent monopolies from existing. This was the result of nationwide rallies against the growing dominance of certain corporations, influenced by dystopian films. It also led to some companies attempting to help people who were victims of scams, and better efforts to rehabilitate people who were banned from businesses.

In the 2020's, the Backlash occured, when a faction of police officers attempted to overthrow the American government and reverse the Indigo Revolution. The defeat of this failed coup led to occasional clashes between anti-extremist groups and anti-Indigo fanatics, with the clashes lasting for around seven years.

## Politics

The America in the *Collectionverse* has three main political parties, instead of two as in OTL: the Arrow Party (progressive), the Hammer Party (more progressive), and the Meleagria Party (conservative). Other political parties in this America include the Pirate Party, the Greens, the Reds, the Crowns, and the Wolves.

In the year 2016, that America underwent an election between three candidates: the eccentric maverick Alex Paratomou, the leathered biker Draco Stygian, and the erudite farmer Ulysses Leghorn. Alex won that election and celebrated his victory with a monster truck rally.

Unlike its more-aggressive OTL counterpart, the United States of the Collectionverse is more interested in helping poorer people rebuild instead of using drone strikes and bombings against them, and refuses to supply local militants against its enemies. In another way, it becomes a rival to China in how much poorer people has it helped. It led to the collapse of certain extremist groups due to the improving livelihood of people in the Middle East.

Unlike its more-conservative OTL counterpart, more people in the United States of the Collectionverse are fiercely against racism, leading to occasional clashes between the locals and extremist gangs. With better access to education, healthcare, employment, and transport, crime rates have dropped in the early 2000s.

A variety of social norms that codified the norms for a reformed America were known as the Great Consensus, which emerged to prevent a dystopian future dominated by radicalised extremists, corporate tyrants, and religious and racist corruption. However, this also divided society between the vast, overwhelming majority that favors cooperation and rationalism, against several extremist minorities who sought to bring America back to pre-Consensus society or something more extreme (like White nationalism, Christian theocracy, communism, fascism, etc.).

## Businesses

Companies and businesses from that America include:

* Storxarin (postal delivery)
* Frystle's (fast food)
	+ The most widespread fast food chain on its world, it consists mostly of '50s-style diners.
* VillaPollo (fast food)
	+ Notorious for refusing to put rainbows on June, it became the subject of romantic graffiti.
* OrlandoTube (Internet videos)
* Teraxyl (coffee)
* Palsen Studios (digital animation, originally from Norway)
	+ They are the ones responsible for the recent incarnation of Reltak.

## Notable Americans

Famous Americans from that world include:

* Kaneesa Lourdes - Renowned for her green-black dress (hence her nickname as "Queen of the Night"), her singing voice, and her calmness, Kaneesa is one of the most famous singers in her world. She is of African-American descent.
* Orvigens de Paubillesons - A reality TV star turned disgraced billionaire, he was notorious for his debauchery, vulgarity in faux coats, and his hot temper. He lives in a large haphazardly-shaped mansion in Santa Ana, CA. His outrage at an Arabic restaurant in 2009 made him contemptible to nearly every other well-known celebrity in the country.
* Alex Paratoumou - A maverick from San Jose, CA who was selected as a Presidential candidate for his love of stunts (jet skiing, monster trucks, and explosions) and support for youth organisations. As a Hammerite, his support for more progressive policies earned him the support of thousands of younger people, especially Internet users and fans from minorities. His lack of a love interest suggests that he is asexual, "because I don't give a seagull about anything!"
* Draco Stygian - A punk biker from Point Blank, TX who was supported by his candidates for the Arrow Party for his driving stunts, his dark-coloured clothing, and his dedication to increasing education. His demographic includes the entertainment industry and dozens of celebrities, and scores of fans. Although his appearance and style attracted a lot of girlfriends, he eventually had a successful marriage after five girlfriends who rejected him and a previous bride whom he divorced after she was caught stealing his money.
* Ulysses Leghorn - A farmer from Ligonier, PA who is known for his knowledge of classical literature, his tact, and his farmer aesthetic. His demographic consists of older people and displaced working-class people who wish to stop social changes from affecting too much of American society (such as automation, immigration waves, and outsourcing of jobs to India and China).
* Joe James Zhou (aka "JoJo J") - A v-logger and gaming champion from California.

## Culture

See also: Fictional works in the Collectionverse

In this America, people tend to become more obsessed with their favourite works of art, that fights often broke out between different fans.

Every 2 June, its people put up rainbows and purple decorations to represent opposition to bullying, and donations are sent to poorer people throughout the country. It is also regarded as a day of romance and mischief for some people: young couples go on dates or commit vandalism. People who refuse to do so would be given stickers, an airhorn, and balls thrown at them; and buildings that do not celebrate this custom instead get vandalised.

## Trivia

* The author intended the America of the Collectionverse to be a more ideal America than the one in the real world, where people live under a fairer society. However, because conditions were better than OTL America, it also led to a greater obsession with art.

## See also

* United States (Rinnarverse)
* Collectionverse timeline