The United Zones of Az Merchaz is a huge, genial nation, ruled by Robert F Kennedy Jr with an even hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, compulsory military service, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, devout population of 873 million Az Merchazians are prohibited from doing almost everything except voting, which they do timidly and conservatively.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ville de Merchaz. The average income tax rate is 78.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Az Merchazian economy, worth 63.4 trillion Merchaz Dollars a year, is quite specialized and led by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Uranium Mining. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 72,588 Merchaz Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Goldfish bowls are three metres in diameter, businesses are forced to bring all work back within the nation's borders, the transit system is throwing poor people under the bus, and a nation-wide cull of Merchazian Falcons is in effect. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Az Merchaz's national animal is the Merchazian Falcon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Az Merchaz is ranked 31,720^th in the world and 215^th in Europeia for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 52.44 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.