The Armed Republic of Smodsen is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Lars Smetinep with an iron fist, and remarkable for its ritual sacrifices, ubiquitous missile silos, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless population of 1.406 billion Tortured Souls are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The large, corrupt, moralistic, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tortsztaunn. The average income tax rate is 76.8%.

The frighteningly efficient Tortured economy, worth 201 trillion Smoddas a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Trout Farming, Information Technology, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 143,576 Smoddas, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.3 times as much as the poorest.

Meat prices are soaring as the farming industry struggle under government-imposed restrictions, Lars Smetinep is the self-declared God of all Smodsen, roads are often attended by round-the-clock construction crews, and a stocking with a crooked seam or a tie without a full Windsor knot are grounds for instant dismissal. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Smodsen's national animal is the AK-47, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Smodsen is ranked 12,787^th in the world and 257^th in The East Pacific for Most Subsidized Industry, scoring 6,919.4 on the Gilded Widget Scale.