Location: 10000 Islands

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Guardians of Ishtar is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Saelvall with an iron fist, and notable for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 3.65 billion are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

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 Religion & Spirituality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Uruk. The average income tax rate is 69%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Shanty towns are forming in the suburbs of major cities, citizens are regularly arrested in queues for 'loitering', record sales of 'child-whacking sticks' have been reported, and the police crack down on tax evaders without mercy. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Ishtar's national animal is the Raven, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Ancient Semitic, and its currency is the Foreigner.

Ishtar is ranked 2,181st in 10000 Islands and 117,980th in the world for Most Pacifist, scoring -755 on the Lennon-Springsteen Scale.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and