The Dissociative State of Hardscrabble is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Dr Norvak Dolokai with a fair hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, daily referendums, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 12.844 billion Hardscrabblers hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Squash Flats. The average income tax rate is 99.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Hardscrabblean economy, worth a remarkable 3,055 trillion gold florgons a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an amazing 237,920 gold florgons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

The dessert 'Death by Chocolate' isn't the most lethal dish on the menu, belief that Dr Norvak Dolokai is a lizard-person from outer space has reached an all-time high, Hardscrabble's children are widely acknowledged as the most foul-mouthed in the region, and the only record being broken at sporting events is the highest death toll. Crime is totally unknown. Hardscrabble's national animal is the wood shrew, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is The Church Of Charismatic Numismatists.

Hardscrabble is ranked 72,288^th in the world and 3,801^st in The North Pacific for Most Income Equality, scoring 50 on the Marx-Engels Emancipation Scale.