Location: the Pacific

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Confederacy of Solarchy is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by Josiah Thoreau with an even hand, and remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 1.563 billion enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Education, and Social Equality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Helios. The average income tax rate is 42%, but much higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing industries.

Photographers can be found hiding behind the curtains in Josiah Thoreau's bedroom, morning coffees are no longer the same since the disappearance of newspapers, record sales of 'child-whacking sticks' have been reported, and the government covers the basic health care of its citizens. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is a major problem. Solarchy's national animal is the Sunfish, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Sol.

Solarchy is ranked 171st in the Pacific and 7,084th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring 8 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and