Spotlight on:

“Forced democracy is no democracy”

The Rogue Nation of The Cruel Pirates is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Caesar2 with an even hand, and remarkable for its punitive income tax rates. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 15.29 billion 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.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Commerce. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Rotterdam. The average income tax rate is 100%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Automobile Manufacturing industry, followed by Gambling and Information Technology.

The government's official stance on religion is that it is so very silly, only a minority of the population can actually vote at elections, airport security is provided by private companies, and underage drinkers are dragged through the streets and put in the stocks. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Cruel Pirates's national animal is the parrot, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the guilder.

The Cruel Pirates is ranked 3rd in the region and 99th in the world for Highest Unemployment Rates.