The Forward to Dawn of Dreadton is a titanic, safe nation, ruled by The Captain with an even hand, and notable for its sprawling nuclear power plants, keen interest in outer space, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate population of 16.911 billion Dreadtonians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The Captains Mast. The average income tax rate is 87.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Dreadtonian economy, worth a remarkable 2,438 trillion Dabloons a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 144,178 Dabloons, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Party-lovers often change religions just for the weekend, travelers are subject to extensive searches if beet stains are visible on their clothing, Loud Patriotic Music Day has been ranked the seventh best new holiday of the year, and the government spends millions of Dabloons every year prosecuting spammers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Dreadton's national animal is the Parrot, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Dreadton is ranked 9,826^th in the world and 421^st in The North Pacific for Nicest Citizens, with 31.76 average smiles per day.