The Republic of Izern 228 is a huge, cultured nation, renowned for its frequent executions, public floggings, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, devout population of 721 million Izern 228ians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The large, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Administration, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 52.8%.

The strong Izern 228ian economy, worth 40.8 trillion izerns a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Gambling, Furniture Restoration, and Information Technology. Black market activity is extensive. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 56,631 izerns, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.6 times as much as the poorest.

Wrongful arrests abound as 'criminals' blame the guy next to them, giggling teens are asked to put their mouths on rubber dolls, foreign policy is mostly just to smile and hope for the best, and the dictionary is a common first book for children. Crime, especially youth-related, is almost non-existent, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Izern 228's national animal is the izern, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Izern 228 is ranked 263,971^st in the world and 621^st in Izern for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -6.71 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.