Kleinberg

Kleinberg Republiek
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  "Werd Voor ons als Geboren"
Anthem: Die Stem van Kleinberg
National Symbols: National Animal: Osse National Tree: Cottonwood Tree National Flower: Geel Rose
Capital	Gelandhoop
Official languages	Vrypraatjie
Demonym(s)	Baanbreken
Government	Tricameral Republic
• Staatspresident	Gerhardus Kriel
• Eerste Minister	Barke Venter
• Adjunk-eerste Minister	Ruan Pietersen
Legislature	Volksraad
Driving side	left

The Small Mountain Republic (Vrypraatjie: Kleinberg Republiek, commonly referred to as Kleinberg), is a tricameral republic that survives off its agricultural and service industry. The lands were settled by Baanbreken, meaning "pioneers," colonists who mainly had the intent to land themselves and farm in these scarcely populated lands that now reside in modern Kleinberg.

Etymology

The name Kleinberg is the Vrypraatjiee name given to the former lands of the Jafari and Hodari tribes. The name Kleinberg translates to "Small Mountain," which is about the highlands in the north-western part of the country. Most of the interior lands are landmark-less, and as a result, the distant rolling hills and mountains are sometimes the most distinct geographic landmarks. The Jafari and Hodari spoke the, now mostly extinct, language of Anfahrr. The Anfarhrri name for the land was "Terego," which is roughly believed to mean "The lands of the southern tribes."

Government

The Baanbreken government has a tricameral legislative body called the Volksraad. The first chamber, called the Eerste Volksraad, is the highest authority within the government, controlling all state affairs. The second chamber, called the Tweede Volksraad, represented immigrant and non-burghers within the Republiek. The third chamber, or the Derde Volksraad, represents the immigrant population in Kleinberg. The second and third chambers may propose legislation, but for it to be law, it must be passed by the Eerste Volksraad. The Ernset Volksraad is made up of forty-nine delegates, seven per district. The second and third chambers have two delegates per district. This brings the total to seventy-seven representatives in the Volksraad. The head of the state and government is the "Staatspresident." He is elected through an electoral college for seven years but is not eligible for re-election in the next election. The position of Staatspresident is mainly a ceremonial position which is obliged to do as the Volksraad commands. The third branch of government is the Hooggeregshof, or High Court, the highest court in the land. The court is made up of seven justices appointed by the Volksraad for ten-year terms, with no limits.

There are seven semi-autonomous districts within Kleinberg. which include Noordbaai, Vlaktesberg, Vrykus, Osse-Landing, Osbloeden, Hawe-Republiek, and Brabendam. Each of these districts has its governing bodies to enact local laws and ordinances but are ultimately subservient to the Volksraad.

Culture

Generally, Baanbreken culture is described as more on the conservative side. A staple in Baanbreken folklore is the concept of the "Yeoman Farmer," a cultural identity which is praised throughout the agrarian society, which is a class of landowning farmers. Baanbreken culture is undiversified due to most of the country's rigid, conservative ways and the solid racial divide and apartheid laws. Traditional Baanbreken values are centered around the family, which reflects the devloutionized country as a whole, but the cultures of each state are distinct and vary due to their environment and local governments.

Image of the Bern Wessels's album "Bergliefde" or "Mountain Love"

Music

Baanbreken music comes in all forms, but the most popular genres are "Easy Listening" (Baanbreken: Maklik luisterbaar), Rock 'n' roll, and Folk (Baanbreken: Volksmusiek). The most prevalent themes in Baanbreken music are love or heartbreak songs and blues. Despite the rapid change in music, most classic Baanbreken and older songs remain popular, particularly with adults. Vinyl records and turntables are the most fashionable and popular to play music among the Baanbreken. Most major music companies make a large portion of their profits from selling turntables. Although now in retirement, Baanbreken music artist Bern Wessels is the most famous artist and currently holds the record for the most sales of music in Kleinberg, with his songs "Liefling," "Lied Van Die Lewe," and "Annakie" respectively being the top three songs in Kleinberg over the past five decades.

Economy

Reflective of the culture and society, the Baanbreken economy is based around free-market agriculture. Most employed and self-employed citizens work in direct or supporting agricultural jobs, ranging from subsistent farming to corporate-plantation farming. As a result of most land in Kleinberg being cultivated farming land, the country's industrial base is centralized in urban centers built around the coast.

Small, family-owned businesses dominate most localities, but due to these jobs not being handed out to "outsiders," most immigrants or natives are forced to find employment in one of the many monopolies in Kleinberg. There are no anti-trust laws, which leads to questionably large companies. As a result, most companies have swathes of influence over government policy; a common tactic to retain wealth is the use of "Company Scrips." Company scrips are forms of payment/currency to a company's workers, which can only be accepted by company-owned stores, effectively retaining all wealth paid out in wages.

A Company Scrip from "Vlyver-Vlok Vervaardiging"

Although Kleinberg always adopted a free-market system, renowned Baanbreken economist Marick Verster, shaped the modern Kleinberg economic system. Verster and his colleges formed the Verster-Heyns Economic Society (Vrypraatjie: Verster-Heyns Ekonomiese Samelewing), with the intent to discuss and spread Versters own economic school of thought. Versteren School is an economic and political philosophy that promotes a free-market/capitalist system with no government intervention. Those who ascribe to Versteren seek to eliminate or privatize most government programs. Verster's teachings argued that the economy and society is made up of individuals, rather than classes or institutions, and these individuals should be granted the most freedom to plan their economic choices without government intervention. Versters beliefs are rooted in the concept that humans are complex and predictions are uncertain, so government intervention will always fall short of implementing effective policies.

A photo of a Baanbreken Kommando/Boswakker

Military

The Baanbreken military's origins start with the Kommando system, where a localities defense relies on home-raised militias called Kommandos, sometimes called "Boswakkers." These Kommandos were made possible due to men's civic and societal expectations, who at the ages 16 - 60 were expected to own a rifle and horse and were eligible to conscription in their local Kommandos. Due to the unreliability of these systems on a national scale and as Wikus Onselen's military modernization reforms, the Kommando system has been subsided for the use of a standing, professional army, the Kleinberg Gewapende Magte.

The two largest manufectures for the Kleinberg Gewapende Magte are Ryneveld Vliegtuigkorporasie, which produces all of Kleinberg's aircraft, notably their helicopters, and secondly Vlyver-Vlok Vervaardiging who produces small arms and vehicles for the military.

Civics

To be a citizen of Kleinberg, you must be directly related to the original Baanbreken settlers of the region. Immigrants, or other minority groups, are treated as second-class citizens. To be a member of a public/civil office, you must be Baanbreken. These citizens are represented and may propose legislation to the Volksraad, particularly the first house, Eerste Volksraad. The other obligations/criteria to be a citizen are that every man can own a rifle, horse, and two weeks worth of substance supplies. Although seemingly pointless, most Baanbreken already has such supplies due to the societal norms of Baanbreken life. The reason behind this requirement is the reliance on the Kommando system, the local militia system with conscripts men into "Kommando" or "Boswakkers" units for local or national defense. A citizen's rights and duties are outlined in the Kleinberg constitution.

Geography

Kleinberg is made up of three different distinct geographic regions. Dominating south Kleinberg, an oceanic climate consisting of mild summers, relative to the nearby semi-arid areas, and mild winters. Oceanic regions have narrow temperature ranges; there is a consistent temperature with little spikes to extreme temperatures. This is home to most of Kleinberg's urban centers and hosts the industrial and service potions of the economy. Central and north-western Kleinberg, making up most of the nation, is a semi-arid climate. Semi-arid climates are intermediate climates between humid and desert climates. Most vegetation in this region are short shrubs and grasses and, due to the vastness of the semi-arid climate, is a host to large grazing-agricultural industry. In the northeast part of Kleinberg exists the highlands. Highlands are elevated plateaus consisting of significant hills or mountains. These northern highlands are the origins of "Kleinberg," which means "Small mountain."