The United States of Dire Straights is a titanic, cultured nation, remarkable for its frequent executions, compulsory military service, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 12.66 billion USDS citizens are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The tiny, pro-business government juggles the competing demands of Spirituality, Law & Order, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 6.3%.

The thriving Dire Straights economy, worth 962 trillion dollars a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Soda Sales, Woodchip Exports, and Pizza Delivery. Average income is 76,057 dollars, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 260,935 per year while the poor average 16,270, a ratio of 16.0 to 1.

The homeless more often beg for mercy than money, Dire Straights has designated Dire Straights City as its capital city, Leader has just been declared ruler of Dire Straights in an international press conference, and a major religion has been named as Dire Straights's national religion. Crime is relatively low. Dire Straights's national animal is the kangaroo.

Dire Straights is ranked 179,053^rd in the world and 160^th in The Eighth Closet for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 374.35 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.