Spotlight on:

“2be jackal over dead lion is good,2be live lion better!”

The Republic of Liononim is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Lionofzion Fear my Roar with a fair hand, and remarkable for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 14.87 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 government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Religion & Spirituality, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 26%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry, followed by Book Publishing and Automobile Manufacturing.

The government snoops on private internet connections, marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home, schools have extensive counseling programs for troubled students, and school uniforms are compulsory. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Liononim's national animal is the Lion of course, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the shekel.

Liononim is ranked 24th in the region and 1,251st in the world for Largest Basket Weaving Sector.