The Protectorate of Firebrandington is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Salamandra salamandra with an even hand, and remarkable for its sprawling nuclear power plants, anti-smoking policies, and hatred of cheese. The compassionate, democratic population of 26.236 billion Firebrandingtonians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Environment, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Red Ring. The average income tax rate is 94.7%.

The strong Firebrandingtonian economy, worth a remarkable 1,874 trillion space bucks a year, is driven almost entirely by government activity, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is solely comprised of the Tourism industry. State-owned companies are the norm. Average income is 71,463 space bucks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Sociologists can charge whatever fee they like as the nation tries to find itself, annual Formula One races bring the capital to a screeching halt, debates on whether toilet seats should be left up or down are increasingly commonplace, and bus ads propagandize causes ranging from sexual revolution to religious pogroms. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Firebrandington's national animal is the fire salamander, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Firebrandington is ranked 287,036^th in the world and 3^rd in United Otter Emirates for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring -17.11 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.