The Rational Republic of Sanden is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Edmund Muskie with a fair hand, and notable for its anti-smoking policies, frequent executions, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 19.414 billion Sandenians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, outspoken morass — juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Notlock City. The average income tax rate is 84.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Sandenian economy, worth a remarkable 1,390 trillion Shards a year, is highly specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing and Pizza Delivery. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 71,646 Shards, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Major cities shut down as their local sports team takes to the field every day, UFO sightings are listed daily in the morning news, loans are available for students from poor families, and all streets are privately owned toll roads. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Sanden's national animal is the Peregrine Falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Rationalism.

Sanden is ranked 31,383^rd in the world and 946^th in the South Pacific for Highest Poor Incomes, with 59,304.47 Standard Monetary Units.