The Confederacy of Hertalin is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its state-planned economy, compulsory military service, and hatred of cheese. The compassionate, democratic population of 2.162 billion Hertalinese are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The enormous, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 85.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Hertalinese economy, worth 193 trillion pounds a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is led by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Information Technology. Average income is 89,332 pounds, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Crossbow bolts fill the skies if so much as a sparrow flies overhead, Leader's exquisite office door is replaced monthly due to angry petitioners, the comic book series 'Leader and the Villainous Corporate Cronies' is a best-seller, and they say that Hertalinese made a dessert and called it peace. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Hertalin's national animal is the dolphin, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Hertalin is ranked 23,944^th in the world and 37^th in The Internationale for Lowest Crime Rates, with 86.83 law-abiding acts per hour.