The Rational Republic of Sanden is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by Harold Stassen with a fair hand, and renowned for its compulsory military service, anti-smoking policies, and keen interest in outer space. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 16.754 billion Sandenians 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 government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, outspoken morass — juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Notlock City. The average income tax rate is 82.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Sandenian economy, worth a remarkable 1,120 trillion Shards a year, is driven almost entirely by government activity. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing and Pizza Delivery. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 66,863 Shards, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Major cities shut down as their local sports team takes to the field every day, UFO sightings are listed daily in the morning news, loans are available for students from poor families, and all streets are privately owned toll roads. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Sanden's national animal is the Peregrine Falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Rationalism.

Sanden is ranked 196,695^th in the world and 6,916^th in the South Pacific for Fattest Citizens, with 8.15 Obesity Rate.