The Armed States of Skalliad is a huge, cultured nation, ruled by the 27th President William Shepard with a fair hand, and notable for its pith helmet sales, ubiquitous missile silos, and absence of drug laws. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 881 million Skalliadians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized, corrupt, outspoken government prioritizes Defense, although Industry, Administration, and Education are also considered important, while Spirituality and International Aid are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Skallia. The average income tax rate is 67.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Skalliadian economy, worth 153 trillion AS dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 174,452 AS dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Major cities run on potato batteries, the military is blowing up any threat to employment within the nation, ranchers are adept at mimicking wolf attacks, and foreign leaders who don't applaud the 27th President William Shepard's speeches are regarded as enemies of Skalliad. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Skalliad's national animal is the Bald Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Skalliad is ranked 181,642^nd in the world and 954^th in Europe for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 50 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.