Spotlight on:

“In God We Trust”

The Republic of Tessen is a gargantuan, economically powerful nation, ruled by Prime Minister Nathan Mitchell with a fair hand, and notable for its complete absence of social welfare. Its compassionate, hard-working, intelligent population of 11.068 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 Religion & Spirituality, Education, and Commerce. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Aydindril. The average income tax rate is 77%, and even higher for the wealthy. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Book Publishing industry, followed by Uranium Mining and Automobile Manufacturing.

The armed forces are locked in an expensive and bloody war abroad to stamp out possible terrorists, badminton was recently banned due to 'unacceptable violence' inherent to the game, crowds of flag-burning protesters tend to accidentally become crowds of burning protesters, and the institution of marriage is held sacred and strictly enforced. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Tessen's national animal is the deer, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Christianity, and its currency is the dollar.

Tessen is ranked 4th in the region and 54,923rd in the world for Most Godforsaken.