The Free Land of Tarnton is a massive, cultured nation, renowned for its sprawling nuclear power plants, daily referendums, and devotion to social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 1.441 billion Tarntonians 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 government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, corrupt morass — juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 87.9%.

The powerhouse Tarntonian economy, worth 111 trillion Promises a year, is highly specialized and led by the Furniture Restoration industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Retail. Average income is 77,153 Promises, with the richest citizens earning 5.2 times as much as the poorest.

Collisions between bicycles and carnival floats are on the rise, the mood of raunchy movies is often ruined by the sound of babies crying, the first test of a good kindergartener is the quality of the sponge-baths they give, and the police use sound cannons and mortars to deal with loud parties. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Tarnton's national animal is the Chrysalis, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Tarnton is ranked 326,092^nd in the world and 1,165^th in Concord for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -14.25 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.