The Democratic Republic of Light Year is a small, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its burgeoning cow population. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 29 million Light Yearians 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.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Spirituality, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 27.4%.

The strong Light Yearian economy, worth 1.25 trillion dollars a year, is led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Cheese Exports, Book Publishing, and Gambling. Average income is 43,203 dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.5 times as much as the poorest.

Crime is moderate. Light Year's national animal is the cow, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Light Year is ranked 261,386^th in the world and 3,016^th in the South Pacific for Largest Manufacturing Sector, scoring 3,223.41 on the Gooback-Jerbs Productivity Index.