The Free Republic of Ponderosa is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by President Lane with a fair hand, and renowned for its complete lack of public education, absence of drug laws, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 28.681 billion Ponderosans 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, corrupt, liberal, pro-business government, or what there is of one, is solely concerned with Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Santa Fe. Income tax is unheard of.

The frighteningly efficient Ponderosan economy, worth a remarkable 9,832 trillion Ponderosa dollars a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Retail, Soda Sales, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is an amazing 342,808 Ponderosa dollars, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 1,381,561 per year while the poor average 56,850, a ratio of 24.3 to 1.

ADHD now stands for Attention Distracted by Hardware Devices, press conferences always end with standing ovations and rapturous applause, constituents prefer a carrot and boomstick approach to dealing with politicians, and exports of live cows arrive pre-roasted. Crime, especially youth-related, is so common that it is unusual to encounter someone following the law, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Ponderosa's national animal is the Osprey, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Ponderosa is ranked 6,000^th in the world and 10^th in Wintreath for Largest Manufacturing Sector, scoring 51,417.45 on the Gooback-Jerbs Productivity Index.