Location: Texas

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Holy Empire of Richard II is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by Pharaoh with an iron fist, and notable for its anti-smoking policies. Its compassionate, hard-working, cynical population of 18.014 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.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded individuals is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Education and Defence are on the agenda. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Richard II City. Income tax is unheard of. 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.

Citizens must pay to enjoy Richard II's pristine beaches, employers may fire workers without giving any reason, the number of students attending university has reached a record high, and the nation's massive battleships are often mistaken for islands. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Richard II's national animal is the Hell Cat, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is still in the development phase, and its currency is the Platinum Dollar.

Richard II is ranked 143rd in Texas and 92,261st in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -23 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and