Spotlight on:

“Strength through Union”

The Democratic Federation of The Valepian Lands is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by President Thomas Engels with an even hand, and remarkable for its complete lack of public education. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 1.593 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.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded individuals is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Commerce and Defence are secondary priorities. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Valininshire. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Uranium Mining, Book Publishing, and Arms Manufacturing industries.

Protests are legal but strictly supervised, religious organizations are being forced to leave the country or pay income taxes like everybody else, The Valepian Lands's first free elections in recent memory have been successfully concluded, and vanity is considered the eigth cardinal virtue. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling. The Valepian Lands's national animal is the Great Golden Hawk, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is non-existent, and its currency is the Roble.

The Valepian Lands is ranked 15th in the region and 10,466th in the world for Most Godforsaken.