The Republic of Weistad is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by President Erwin Warner with a fair hand, and remarkable for its museums and concert halls, compulsory military service, and keen interest in outer space. The compassionate, democratic, devout population of 1.913 billion Weiss hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Vatersberg. The average income tax rate is 82.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Weiss economy, worth 259 trillion stads a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 135,493 stads, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Diplomats in Weistad are furious at constant police surveillance, the government is continually probing the galaxy in search of alien life, there are six more weeks of winter if a northerner sees his shadow, and parents seeking custody have to write a five-thousand word analysis of their child's imaginary friend. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Weistad's national animal is the elk, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Weistad is ranked 8,985^th in the world and 402^nd in The North Pacific for Lowest Crime Rates, with 103.08 law-abiding acts per hour.