Spotlight on:

“Ad astra”

The Republic of Hearthome is a massive, socially progressive nation, ruled by President Elias Montague with a fair hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 2.168 billion are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, pro-business individuals juggles the competing demands of Education, the Environment, and Commerce. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Information Technology industry.

The nation refuses to provide international aid, the children of Hearthome are often remarked upon for their cheery attitude to extreme violence, the Great Hearthome Desert is reputedly the most uninhabitable place in the region, and guns are banned. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling. Hearthome's national animal is the white tiger, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Hearthome drachma.

Hearthome is ranked 66th in the region and 3,713th in the world for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry.