The State of West-South is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its absence of drug laws, complete absence of social welfare, and spontaneously combusting cars. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 15.164 billion West-Southians live in a state of perpetual fear, as a complete breakdown of social order has led to the rise of order through biker gangs.

The minute, liberal, pro-business, outspoken government, or what there is of one, juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Capital Heights. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 4.8%.

The strong West-Southian economy, worth 779 trillion betales a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is fairly diversified and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, and Trout Farming. Average income is 51,380 betales, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 331,154 per year while the poor average 3,220, a ratio of 102 to 1.

Voting is voluntary and West-South has designated Capital Heights as its capital city. Crime is a major problem, probably because of the absence of a police force. West-South's national animal is the deer, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

West-South is ranked 44,885^th in the world and 108^th in Ancient Lands for Largest Automobile Manufacturing Sector, scoring 4,438.46 on the Henry Ford Productivity Index.