Location: New England

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Most Serene Republic of The Grouper is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Leader with a fair hand, and notable for its restrictive gun laws. Its compassionate, hard-working, intelligent population of 3.161 billion enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Equality, and Social Welfare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The Grouper City. The average income tax rate is 91%, and even higher for the wealthy. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Cheese has become the new icon of political dissent, space research funding has hit a recent high while several military bases are being closed down, several citizens have complained about scientists abducting their pets for experimentation, and a government program is underway to revitalize The Grouper's beaches. Crime is totally unknown. The Grouper's national animal is the grouper, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the little neon goby.

The Grouper is ranked 15th in New England and 95,802nd in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -27 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and