The Incorporated States of Planet Phaeton is a mammoth, orderly nation, renowned for its pith helmet sales, complete absence of social welfare, and spontaneously combusting cars. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 5.341 billion Planet Phaetonians are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

The relatively small, pro-business, well-organized government prioritizes Defense, although Law & Order, Education, and Public Transport are also considered important, while International Aid and Spirituality receive no funds. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 9.6%.

The very strong Planet Phaetonian economy, worth 353 trillion Renminbis a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Uranium Mining industry, with significant contributions from Automobile Manufacturing, Basket Weaving, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is 66,124 Renminbis, but there is an enormous disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 361,416 per year while the poor average 6,184, a ratio of 58.4 to 1.

Every microwave and toaster is being disassembled and probed by inspectors, kids are taught in schools to argue with their parents, official government guidance encourages binge behaviors, and increasing numbers of children in Planet Phaeton have different eye and hair color to their supposed fathers. Crime, especially youth-related, is relatively low, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Planet Phaeton's national animal is the Capellan Power-Cat, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Planet Phaeton is ranked 259,969^th in the world and 17^th in An Island In Space for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 87.79 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.