The Republic of High Meadows is a gargantuan, efficient nation, ruled by Elfego Baca with a fair hand, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls, public floggings, and spontaneously combusting cars. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 31.425 billion High Meadowsians 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 relatively small, liberal, pro-business, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Public Transport, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Glen Ullen. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 6.0%.

The frighteningly efficient High Meadowsian economy, worth a remarkable 4,605 trillion Goldens a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 146,560 Goldens, but there is an enormous disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 793,274 per year while the poor average 13,999, a ratio of 56.7 to 1.

High food prices have reduced the national diet to staple foods and water, eminent domain has been abolished, the nation's universities are often mistaken for foreign embassies, and the weather report is the prisoners' favourite programme. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. High Meadows's national animal is the Mule Deer, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

High Meadows is ranked 19,007^th in the world and 3^rd in North Carolina for Nicest Citizens, with 23.07 average smiles per day.