Location: Rushmore

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Republic of Swartaz is a colossal, economically powerful nation, ruled by President Eva Johansson with an even hand, and renowned for its national health service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 6.487 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, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Healthcare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Göteborg. The average income tax rate is 98%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing, Gambling, and Automobile Manufacturing industries.

The government is avowedly atheist, jails have become colloquially known as 'vampire houses', abortion is only legal in unusual circumstances, and a crusade against barbaric religious practices has begun. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Swartaz's national animal is the Hawk, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Atheism, and its currency is the Saasmaik.

Swartaz is ranked 67th in Rushmore and 40,720th in the world for Most Politically Free, scoring 62 on the Diebold Election Inking Scale.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and