The Republic of 1971 is a titanic, genial nation, ruled by The Tinwoodman with an iron fist, and remarkable for its punitive income tax rates, devotion to social welfare, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 16.142 billion 1971ians are ruled with an iron fist by the socialist government, which grants its people the freedom to do whatever they like so long as it doesn't involve getting richer than anybody else or challenging the government.

The large, liberal, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Spirituality, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Sleepy meadows. The average income tax rate is 60.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The large but stagnant 1971ian economy, worth 331 trillion deniers a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Woodchip Exports industry, with major contributions from Uranium Mining, Basket Weaving, and Cheese Exports. Average income is 20,536 deniers, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Ministers are now allowed to put suggestions in the governmental suggestion box, seasonal hay-fever sufferers are attending government drug counselling sessions to get free doughnuts, Christian Science has been named as 1971's national religion, and grannies get pulled over for knitting pullovers while driving. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. 1971's national animal is the eagle and its national religion is Christian Science.

1971 is ranked 147,332^nd in the world and 3^rd in 314159265358979323846264338327950 for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 399.99 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.