The Republic of THIRD PIGEON is a mammoth, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its absence of drug laws. The democratic population of 6.717 billion THIRD PIGEONians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Healthcare, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 16.8%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The large but inefficient THIRD PIGEONian economy, worth 217 trillion rubledollars a year, is quite specialized and led by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Furniture Restoration, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Basket Weaving. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 32,440 rubledollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Crime is moderate. THIRD PIGEON's national animal is the pigeon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

THIRD PIGEON is ranked 280,364^th in the world and 3,220^th in The catholic military orders for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring -26.46 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.