Spotlight on:

“All For The State”

The Dominion of Hortensium is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by the Glorious Leader with an iron fist, and notable for its museums and concert halls. Its compassionate, cynical population of 3.867 billion are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Social Welfare, Defence, and Law & Order. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Hortensium City. The average income tax rate is 100%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Tourism.

Tax evaders are regularly visited by agents of the Hortensium Blood Tithe, politicians are often seen with soldiers pointing guns at their heads, children are brainwashed at a young age to accept "Love and peace!" as a way of life, and organ donation is compulsory. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Hortensium's national animal is the squid, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Leader-Worship, and its currency is the Hortensium Note.

Hortensium is ranked 607th in the region and 52,849th in the world for Largest Publishing Industry.