Spotlight on:

“ In The Stars We Trust ”

The United Terran Alliance of The Fedral Union is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by President Richard H Sagen with a fair hand, and notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 13.865 billion live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

The small, corrupt, liberal, pro-business government devotes most of its attentions to Defence, with areas such as the Environment and Religion & Spirituality receiving almost no funds by comparison. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Union City. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Book Publishing industry, followed by Arms Manufacturing and Uranium Mining.

Citizens must pay to enjoy The Fedral Union's pristine beaches, the mining industry is making inroads into environmentally sensitive areas, police officers are seen patrolling the streets armed with satellite-guided truncheons, and citizens are enjoying a recent large cut in taxes. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling, probably because of the country's utter lack of prisons. The Fedral Union's national animal is the Eagel, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the Terran Credit.

The Fedral Union is ranked 10th in the region and 53,349th in the world for Best Weather.