The Federal Republic of Ithertia is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by President Alexander Hemingway with an even hand, and remarkable for its free-roaming dinosaurs, keen interest in outer space, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, cheerful population of 1.951 billion Ithertians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The large, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Archimedes. The average income tax rate is 71.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ithertian economy, worth 178 trillion Kilvers a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Information Technology, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 91,293 Kilvers, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The mining industry is making inroads into environmentally sensitive areas, the native owl population is in permanent hibernation, sleep-deprived officials are known to collapse after late night revision for their examinations, and the only things written in the stars are arrest warrants for astrologers. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ithertia's national animal is the Stingray, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Abrahamism.

Ithertia is ranked 5,436^th in the world and 112^th in Europe for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 59.47 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.