The Barium of Ba is a gargantuan, orderly nation, remarkable for its zero percent divorce rate, parental licensing program, and keen interest in outer space. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 28.144 billion Bans 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 relatively small, corrupt, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 34.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ban economy, worth a remarkable 7,196 trillion Electrons a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a large, well-organized, broadly diversified black market in Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, Soda Sales, and Retail. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is an amazing 255,691 Electrons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Preservative manufacturers are told to put a lid on it, voting for pro-Bigtopian candidates is voluntary, the new airport at Mr. Giles' farm is panicking his sheep, and a sincere statement of belief can get you out of anything. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ba's national animal is the Up quark, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Ba is ranked 182,409^th in the world and 4^th in Trav khar for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 75.2 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.