The Holy Meritocratic Republic of Argyres is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by Iason Argyres with a fair hand, and renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, frequent executions, and anti-smoking policies. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 46.243 billion Argyris live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

The minute, liberal, pro-business, outspoken government, or what there is of one, juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Policy, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Adelphia. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 1.1%.

The frighteningly efficient Argyri economy, worth a remarkable 8,668 trillion Stephanies a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Gambling industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Uranium Mining, and Information Technology. Average income is an impressive 187,465 Stephanies, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 942,967 per year while the poor average 20,829, a ratio of 45.3 to 1.

Old dogs don't have to learn new tricks but they have to prove they haven't forgotten old ones, things are looking up for patients accidentally prescribed erectile dysfunction medication, couples are discouraged from marrying until they can rank their partner on a scale of one to ten, and the government has certified several glow-in-the-dark athletes as drug free. Crime, especially youth-related, is a major problem, probably because of the absence of a police force. Argyres's national animal is the moose, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Argyres is ranked 128,322^nd in the world and 3^rd in The New Meritocracy for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 1,289.44 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.