Location: the West Pacific

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Impending baldness of Ethel mermania is a massive, devout nation, ruled by Fearless Leader with an even hand, and renowned for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed population of 3.778 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, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The Great White Way. The average income tax rate is 10%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

The government has cut its subsidies for all special interest groups, teenagers are sent to jail for being out too late, police officers have nearly cracked a major underage astronomy syndicate, and citizens who leave the country are officially classed as traitors. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ethel mermania's national animal is the ethel merman, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is the cult of fearless leaderism, and its currency is the yid.

Ethel mermania is ranked 3,908th in the West Pacific and 90,346th in the world for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -4 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and