Location: Texas

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Federation of Mimes Guild is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed population of 20.529 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, Defence, and the Environment. The average income tax rate is 99%. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Radio shows frequently feature people denouncing religion, 'unconventional' weaponry has been banned, ethnic minorities are often refused admission to some of the nation's best schools, and the wearing and manufacture of fur apparel is banned. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mimes Guild's national animal is the opossum, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Octopus card.

Mimes Guild is ranked 159th in Texas and 129,947th in the world for Stupidest Citizens, scoring -19 on the Average Edu-UNtellignce® Test Score.

NationStates by Max Barry, author of and