The Republic of Straw Island is a colossal, efficient nation, remarkable for its enslaved workforce, prohibition of alcohol, and compulsory gun ownership. The devout population of 7.842 billion Straw Islandians 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 large, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 66.6%.

The frighteningly efficient Straw Islandian economy, worth 812 trillion Dollars a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Furniture Restoration, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Black market activity is extensive. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 103,653 Dollars, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 320,051 per year while the poor average 25,899, a ratio of 12.4 to 1.

Drug lords often avoid prison time by teaching "chemistry" classes to underprivileged youth, Straw Island City is a police state during international summits, corporate lawyers are switching careers to the more lucrative field of green politics, and gun ownership is compulsory. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Straw Island's national animal is the Bat, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Straw Island is ranked 44,336^th in the world and 36^th in The grimy backyard of Bigej for Most Cultured, scoring 74 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.