The Republic of Tarantriss is a colossal, safe nation, remarkable for its frequent executions, compulsory military service, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, hard-working population of 3.141 billion Tarantrissians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The large government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Administration, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 48.4%.

The thriving Tarantrissian economy, worth 197 trillion bitcoins a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Cheese Exports, and Uranium Mining. Average income is 62,762 bitcoins, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 213,136 per year while the poor average 13,634, a ratio of 15.6 to 1.

Understaffed slavers offer highballs when asked to 'pass the screwdriver' during household maintenance, Tarantriss City University is said to be the modern-day Tower of Babel, trying to toast marshmallows in an electric fireplace just isn't the same, and students and teachers are regularly stopped and searched for symbols of religious affiliation before class. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Tarantriss's national animal is the cow, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Tarantriss is ranked 86,168^th in the world and 1^st in The Crowned Alliance of Hispania for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 111.18 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.