The Republic of Laneria is a colossal, cultured nation, ruled by George Arthur with a fair hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic, devout population of 8.953 billion Lanerians are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The minute, pro-business, outspoken government, or what there is of one, juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Industry, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Williamsburg. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 4.9%.

The frighteningly efficient Lanerian economy, worth 761 trillion dollars a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Retail, Pizza Delivery, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Average income is 85,057 dollars, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 333,499 per year while the poor average 14,758, a ratio of 22.6 to 1.

Citizens may cast their vote over the internet or phone, tourists are forbidden to enter Native Lanerian lands, at least 1% of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget goes to George Arthur's wardrobe, and cricket farmers use magnifying glasses to fit every member of their herd with tiny tracking tags. Crime, especially youth-related, is well under control, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Laneria's national animal is the bald eagle.

Laneria is ranked 248,832^nd in the world and 20^th in Western Atlantic for Nicest Citizens, with 1.23 average smiles per day.