The Colony of Sidewalk Zone is a mammoth, genial nation, ruled by Jay Myers with a fair hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space, irreverence towards religion, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 8.51 billion Atlanteans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, corrupt, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Shadowville. The average income tax rate is 74.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Atlantean economy, worth a remarkable 1,603 trillion Silver Certificates a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is an impressive 188,477 Silver Certificates, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.9 times as much as the poorest.

Saying 'Hi Guys' to a mixed gender group of people at work is a fireable offense, cultural heritage is measured in Scoville Heat Units, a politician who is photographed pulling a funny face while eating can say goodbye to their credibility, and children spend all morning taking out a comma and all afternoon putting it back in again. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Sidewalk Zone's national animal is the cat, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Christianity.

Sidewalk Zone is ranked 39,407^th in the world and 38^th in Shadowville for Lowest Crime Rates, with 80.81 law-abiding acts per hour.