The Republic of Wingstone is a large, safe nation, notable for its frequent executions, keen interest in outer space, and complete lack of prisons. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 108 million Wingstoneans 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 relatively small government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Administration. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 17.8%.

The thriving Wingstonean economy, worth 9.67 trillion Bolts a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Trout Farming. Average income is 89,551 Bolts, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 315,731 per year while the poor average 18,378, a ratio of 17.2 to 1.

Citizens volunteer for tax audits to avoid the 80-page Practical Assessment Survey Tool On Religions, more and more students are taking up a career in medicine, newspapers and TV broadcasters are given a list of 'acceptable words', and illicit spice trade makes desert merchants wrangling worms blush. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Wingstone's national animal is the Boeing 747.

Wingstone is ranked 248,671^st in the world and 3,043^rd in the South Pacific for Highest Unexpected Death Rate, scoring 28.18 on the Bus Surprisal Index.