The Rational Republic of Sanden is a gargantuan, safe nation, ruled by Harold Stassen with a fair hand, and notable for its daily referendums, compulsory military service, and anti-smoking policies. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 14.89 billion Sandenians love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

The enormous, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Notlock City. The average income tax rate is 74.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Sandenian economy, worth a remarkable 1,074 trillion Shards a year, is highly specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Pizza Delivery, and Soda Sales. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 72,191 Shards, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Major cities shut down as their local sports team takes to the field every day, UFO sightings are listed daily in the morning news, loans are available for students from poor families, and all streets are privately owned toll roads. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Sanden's national animal is the Peregrine Falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Rationalism.

Sanden is ranked 190,288^th in the world and 7,627^th in the South Pacific for Largest Basket Weaving Sector, scoring -7.48 on the Hickory Productivity Index.