Location: Soviet Union

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Council Democracy of Beyond These Things is a massive, socially progressive nation, notable for its restrictive gun laws. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 2.136 billion love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Equality, and the Environment. The average income tax rate is 90%, and even higher for the wealthy. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Beyond These Things's educational system is the envy of many and regarded as a pinnacle of academic achievement, anti-government political posters adorn every building like wallpaper, schools have extensive counseling programs for troubled students, and public footpaths are being slowly eroded by the burgeoning number of ramblers. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Beyond These Things's national animal is the rattle snake, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the farthing.

Beyond These Things is ranked 16th in Soviet Union and 99,201st in the world for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -8 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and