The Confederacy of La Plata Basin is a large, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, frequent executions, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 97 million Platinians are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The minute government, or what there is of one, prioritizes Defense, with Administration, Industry, and Education also on the agenda, while Spirituality and International Aid are ignored. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 4.5%.

The very strong La Plata Basinian economy, worth 6.85 trillion Platas a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Gambling industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Pizza Delivery, and Soda Sales. Average income is 70,621 Platas, with the richest citizens earning 9.3 times as much as the poorest.

The government has become increasingly militant, more than one company makes the board game Monopoly, politicians look weirdly alike, and tourists often cite 'hiding money in an off-shore banking account' as their main reason to visit the nation. Crime, especially youth-related, is a problem, probably because of the absence of a police force. La Plata Basin's national animal is the Harpy Eagle, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

La Plata Basin is ranked 254,406^th in the world and 283^rd in Commonwealth of Liberty for Most Beautiful Environments, with 199.98 pounds of wildlife per square mile.