The Federal Republic of Phthalo is a huge, orderly nation, notable for its pith helmet sales, zero percent divorce rate, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, cynical, devout population of 531 million Phthalians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The medium-sized, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Cotz. The average income tax rate is 43.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Phthalian economy, worth 47.7 trillion Leibsmarks a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Book Publishing, and Tourism. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 89,804 Leibsmarks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Tom and Jerry cartoons have cat and mouse resolving their problems with reasoned discussion, family bonding sessions are considered immoral and are banned, schoolchildren on field trips are asked what torture means to them, and military pilots spend more time scraping feathers off their engines than flying their aircraft. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Phthalo's national animal is the White-Shouldered Eagle.

Phthalo is ranked 33,043^rd in the world and 14^th in Der Leibwache for Highest Poor Incomes, with 71,387.04 Standard Monetary Units.