Location: Michigan

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Disputed Territories of The Ridgeway Monster is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by Leader with an iron fist, and notable for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 2.641 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.

The tiny government juggles the competing demands of Commerce, Defence, and Religion & Spirituality. The average income tax rate is 10%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Beef-Based Agriculture, Automobile Manufacturing, and Uranium Mining industries.

UFO sightings are listed daily in the morning news, crime is on the rise as DNA sampling has been all but outlawed, the judicial branch is strongly influenced by major corporations, and Leader has just been declared ruler of The Ridgeway Monster in an international press conference. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is a major problem, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. The Ridgeway Monster's national animal is the Michigan dog man, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the print.

The Ridgeway Monster is ranked 1st in Michigan and 10,921st in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -6 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and