Spotlight on:

“Don't sweat petty things....or pet sweaty things.”

The Confederacy of United Public is a massive, safe nation, notable for its prohibition of alcohol. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 2.204 billion are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Law & Order, although Defence and Education are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 100%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, followed by Tourism and Woodchip Exports.

The nation's industries are scrambling to switch to biodegradable plastics, Max Barry is this year's Miss United Public, suit-clad businessmen have been taking advantage of the relaxed welfare qualifications by shopping with food stamps, and cremation is compulsory for the deceased. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. United Public's national animal is the Spider Monkey, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the Bill.

United Public is ranked 6th in the region and 4,918th in the world for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry.