Spotlight on:

“Recolligo unus, recolligo totus.”

The Republic of Wheatlon is a huge, socially progressive nation, notable for its museums and concert halls. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 577 million are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whoever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

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 Welfare, and Healthcare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Wheatlon City. The average income tax rate is 87%, and even higher for the wealthy. A large private sector is led by the Book Publishing industry, followed by Information Technology and Tourism.

Referenda can be called for any law at the request of at least one third of the voting population, the police crack down on tax evaders without mercy, prime commercial land is being swamped with archaeological teams, and the arms industry is strictly regulated. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Wheatlon's national animal is the otter, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the sheave.

Wheatlon is ranked 14th in the region and 11,980th in the world for Highest Unemployment Rates.