The Oppressed Peoples of Laura Palmer is a massive, socially progressive nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape and absence of drug laws. The hard-working, democratic, devout population of 1.078 billion Laura Palmerians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Spirituality, Defense, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Twin Peaks. The average income tax rate is 9.6%.

The strong Laura Palmerian economy, worth 69.3 trillion Cherry Pies a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Gambling, and Book Publishing. Average income is 64,297 Cherry Pies, with the richest citizens earning 5.4 times as much as the poorest.

Community organizers have given up going door to door because nobody is home, military equipment stores have a tendency to go up in flames, old dogs don't have to learn new tricks but they have to prove they haven't forgotten old ones, and the government is pouring money into 'Operation Enduring Democracy'. Crime, especially youth-related, is moderate, probably because of the absence of a police force. Laura Palmer's national animal is the Owl, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

Laura Palmer is ranked 147,827^th in the world and 3^rd in Elparia for Most Developed, scoring 55.71 on the Human Development Index.