The Federation of Winterstein is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Johann Dahlmeier with an even hand, and remarkable for its ubiquitous missile silos, punitive income tax rates, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 2.282 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 68.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Wintersteinian economy, worth 170 trillion Wintermarks a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Automobile Manufacturing, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is 74,713 Wintermarks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

What goes down must come up, waste is frequently shipped to other countries, dubiously qualified Skandilundian barristers keep referring to laws as 'government guidelines', and the examiners who examine examiners are being examined by examiners. 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 23,556^th in the world and 460^th in Europe for Highest Food Quality, scoring 105.65 on the Meeshlin-Starr Index.