The Republic of -Sutherland is a massive, safe nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, frequent executions, and restrictive gun laws. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 4.158 billion Sutherlandians are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.
The medium-sized, moralistic, pro-business government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 20.5%.
The very strong -Sutherlandian economy, worth 227 trillion kronor a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Woodchip Exports industry, with major contributions from Gambling, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing. Average income is 54,673 kronor, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 203,627 per year while the poor average 10,302, a ratio of 19.8 to 1.
Foreign investment has dropped to a trickle after laws were passed preventing investors from taking their earnings abroad, underage drinkers are dragged through the streets and put in the stocks, the Hanging Gardens account for half of -Sutherland City's water use, and more and more students are taking up a career in medicine. Crime is moderate, possibly because it is difficult to make it through a day without breaking one of the country's many regulations. -Sutherland's national animal is the swan, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.
-Sutherland is ranked 205,492nd in the world and 3,864th in the South Pacific for Nicest Citizens, with 9.76 average smiles per day.
National Happenings
Most Recent Government Activity:
- : -Sutherland was ranked in the Top 5% of the world for Largest Timber Woodchipping Industry.
- : -Sutherland's influence in The South Pacific rose from "Newcomer" to "Nipper".
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, more and more students are taking up a career in medicine.
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, the Hanging Gardens account for half of -Sutherland City's water use.
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, underage drinkers are dragged through the streets and put in the stocks.
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, foreign investment has dropped to a trickle after laws were passed preventing investors from taking their earnings abroad.
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, the majority of the country's traffic wardens have been sacked overnight.
- : -Sutherland was ranked in the Top 10% of the world for Most Pacifist, Largest Gambling Industry, and Fattest Citizens.
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, genetic researchers have been expelled.
- : Following new legislation in -Sutherland, once-vitriolic celebrity chefs are now known for giving encouraging hugs to aspiring cooks.
