Location: the West Pacific

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Once Omniscient Powerhouse of TAO the Watcher is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by TAO the Once Omniscient with an iron fist, and remarkable for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 16.462 billion are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is effectively ruled by the Department of Defence, with areas such as Social Welfare and Social Equality receiving almost no funds by comparison. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The Beech BeachHouse. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 30%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, followed by Information Technology and Pizza Delivery.

Military service is compulsory, billions of 22 oct 04grumpha lens™s are being blown on orbital weapons development, penurious citizens die from easily remedied ailments because they aren't 'taking enough initiative', and the government has started a campaign to crack down on road rage and encourage alternate means of commuting. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. TAO the Watcher's national animal is the spyglass tooter®, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is ANTI-MARSUPIALISM, and its currency is the 22 oct 04grumpha lens™.

TAO the Watcher is ranked 1,517th in the West Pacific and 34,321st in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -11 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and