Location: Greater Dienstad

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Armed Republic of the Isles of Skibereen is a gargantuan, devout nation, ruled by Frederick O'Murchadha with an even hand, and notable for its happy-go-lucky citizens. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 16.907 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 Education, Defence, and Law & Order. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 71%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Gambling industry, followed by Arms Manufacturing and Automobile Manufacturing.

Violently opinionated speakers can be heard preaching their hateful views on every street corner, young children are regularly seen wagering pocket money at blackjack tables, the tenet of free speech is held dear, and tax evaders are regularly visited by agents of the Skibereen Blood Tithe. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Skibereen's national animal is the boar, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Taaly.

Skibereen is ranked 38th in Greater Dienstad and 87,810th in the world for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring -56 on the Kitten Softness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and