The Republic of Foert is a tiny, efficient nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape and irreverence towards religion. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 9 million Foertians are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The minute, pro-business, outspoken government, or what there is of one, juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 5.0%.

The thriving Foertian economy, worth 658 billion werts a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Pizza Delivery, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Average income is 73,181 werts, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 251,069 per year while the poor average 15,655, a ratio of 16.0 to 1.

The latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, genetic researchers have been expelled, a large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway, and only Leader's friends count in the eyes of the government. Crime is a problem, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Foert's national animal is the flamenc, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Foert is ranked 247,942^nd in the world and 39^th in Ridgefield for Highest Poor Incomes, with 15,655.79 Standard Monetary Units.