Location: Gholgoth

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Immortal Pathogen of Rethan is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Dragomyr Lazarevik with an iron fist, and renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 12.606 billion are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, moralistic, pro-business government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Defence, although Law & Order and Commerce are on the agenda. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Lucifer. The average income tax rate is 99%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

The police have reaffirmed their tough stance on drugs, politicians are to be found scavenging bins at night to supplement their income, the country has been 'going shopping' by annexing nearby nations for their resources, and politicians are often seen with soldiers pointing guns at their heads. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Rethan's national animal is the Virus, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the Corpse.

Rethan is ranked 3rd in Gholgoth and 454th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring 55 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and