The Democratic Empire of Lartace is a huge, safe nation, ruled by Savagitika Romullaf with an even hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space, ubiquitous missile silos, and stringent health and safety legislation. The devout population of 821 million Lartaceans are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The medium-sized, moralistic, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Mangover. The average income tax rate is 64.8%.

The thriving Lartacean economy, worth 76.2 trillion Æztidags a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 92,753 Æztidags, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.1 times as much as the poorest.

Knitting needles have been banned in the name of public safety, getting an autograph has become harder than ever, drug lords often avoid prison time by teaching "chemistry" classes to underprivileged youth, and children asking questions about science are referred to relevant sections in religious texts. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Lartace's national animal is the Snake, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Lartace is ranked 72,634^th in the world and 562^nd in Europe for Highest Foreign Aid Spending, scoring 416.12 on the Clooney Contribution Index.