The Federation of Winterstein is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Johann Dahlmeier with an even hand, and remarkable for its ubiquitous missile silos, devotion to social welfare, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic population of 2.267 billion Wintersteinians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The enormous, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Winterberg. The average income tax rate is 68.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Wintersteinian economy, worth 164 trillion Wintermarks a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Automobile Manufacturing, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 72,748 Wintermarks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Citizens are remarkably well involved in the political process, therapists dispense hugs for heroin dealers and cuddles for crackheads, literally voiceless people are unable to protest when food and water are denied to them, and what goes down must come up. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Winterstein's national animal is the Moose, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Winterstein is ranked 57,965^th in the world and 280^th in Europe for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector, scoring 3,891.68 on the Henry Ford Productivity Index.