Spotlight on:

“Death Before Socialism”

The Privateer Confederacy of Conquest Islands is a massive, safe nation, ruled by E Kickapoo Banfill with an even hand, and renowned for its unlimited-speed roads. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 1.088 billion are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The large, pro-business government concentrates mainly on Defence, although Law & Order and Social Welfare are on the agenda. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 4%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Information Technology industry, followed by Arms Manufacturing and Book Publishing.

Military spending is on the increase, a National Academy regulates grammar and usage, the government has declined to declare any particular religion as its 'official' one, and the government has cut taxes in the face of widespread tax evasion. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Conquest Islands's national animal is the Albatross, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the Doubloon.

Conquest Islands is ranked 23rd in the region and 44,106th in the world for Highest Unemployment Rates.