Location: Apolyton

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Kingdom of Optoval is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, renowned for its prohibition of alcohol. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 10.319 billion are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked morass -- juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Social Welfare. The average income tax rate is 34%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Book Publishing.

Protesters against the government are hanged as a warning to others, teenage fathers are forced to join the army, fur coats have become the latest fashion trend, and all alcohol is banned. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Optoval's national animal is the key, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the ring.

Optoval is ranked 2nd in Apolyton and 67,018th in the world for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring -7 on the Kitten Softness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and