The Interplanetary Star-Systems of Alcaria is a colossal, efficient nation, ruled by The Grand Council of Alcaria with a fair hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space, irreverence towards religion, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 4.978 billion Alcarians love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

The large, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Calarai City. The average income tax rate is 98.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Alcarian economy, worth a remarkable 1,192 trillion Alcarian Credits a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is fairly diversified, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is an amazing 239,599 Alcarian Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Most of the nation's wealthy aristocrats are dentists, schoolboys who turn to watch pretty girls go by are given detention, one tree's worth of paperwork accompanies each imported log of timber, and excessive wheelchair ramps on government buildings have been compared to theme park attractions. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Alcaria's national animal is the Alcarian Deep Sea Bunny, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Alcaria is ranked 305,586^th in the world and 4,599^th in The North Pacific for Fattest Citizens, with 2.72 Obesity Rate.