Location: South Figaro

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Poor Soul of Steceda is a huge, devout nation, remarkable for its prohibition of alcohol. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 727 million 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 Religion & Spirituality, Commerce, and Law & Order. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Sulphire City. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 33%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Pizza Delivery, Information Technology, and Automobile Manufacturing industries.

Electrocution deaths among computer technicians are at an all-time high, elections have become procedural nightmares due to voters persistently rejecting candidates, dog breeding has been banned in accordance with recent animal experimentation laws, and children as young as twelve are conscripted into the armed forces. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Steceda's national animal is the Unit, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Seashell.

Steceda is ranked 141st in South Figaro and 79,495th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -17 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and