The Kingdom of Binstead is a titanic, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by King Sigeberht with an even hand, and renowned for its daily referendums, irreverence towards religion, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate population of 16.136 billion Binsteadians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Quarr Hill. The average income tax rate is 71.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The Binsteadian economy, worth 988 trillion vects a year, is quite specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Basket Weaving, Trout Farming, and Furniture Restoration. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 61,242 vects, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Agreeing to appear on TV is often the best way to access social care, spiritual tourists meditate in the ruins of Binsteadian cathedrals, citizens are bombarded with advertising from their compulsory miniature radios, and abortions are routinely performed in the nation's hospitals. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Binstead's national animal is the Puma, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is pagan.

Binstead is ranked 286,185^th in the world and 7^th in Vectis for Rudest Citizens, with 14.39 insults per minute.