Population | 9.985 billion |
Capital | The Penal Colony |
Leader | Simon Van Gelder |
Currency | Federation Credit |
Animal | Patient |
The Rehabilitative Therapy of Tantalus 5 is a colossal, safe nation, ruled by Simon Van Gelder with an even hand, and renowned for its rum-swilling pirates, vat-grown people, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate population of 9.985 billion Therapists are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.
The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Law & Order, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The Penal Colony. The average income tax rate is 76.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.
The strong Tantalus 5 economy, worth 628 trillion Federation Credits a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Trout Farming, Uranium Mining, and Tourism. Average income is 62,952 Federation Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.
Foreign leaders are advising that Simon Van Gelder's letters must have gotten lost in the mail, the "Underwear of Women in Power" issue of The The Penal Colony Times is sold out, being Simon Van Gelder has been voted one of the top ten most dangerous jobs, and every workday begins with group therapy. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Tantalus 5's national animal is the Patient, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.
Tantalus 5 is ranked 62,540th in the world and 62nd in United Earth Space Probe Agency for Most Cultured, scoring 69 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.
National Happenings
Most Recent Government Activity:
- : Tantalus 5 was ranked in the Top 10% of the world for Most Advanced Law Enforcement.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, every workday begins with group therapy.
- : Tantalus 5 was ranked in the Top 5% of the world for Nicest Citizens and the Top 10% for Most Popular Tourist Destinations and Most Advanced Law Enforcement.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, being Simon Van Gelder has been voted one of the top ten most dangerous jobs.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, the "Underwear of Women in Power" issue of The The Penal Colony Times is sold out.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, foreign leaders are advising that Simon Van Gelder's letters must have gotten lost in the mail.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, newspapers and TV broadcasters are given a list of 'acceptable words'.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, convicted criminals are given free limo rides to jail.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, Simon Van Gelder's told that love often manifests itself through homicidal four-lettered litanies.
- : Following new legislation in Tantalus 5, the government has solemnly sworn not to look up other nations' internet browsing history if the favor is returned.