News from Cutabaria

You might like to know how my Nationstates country is getting on. Then again, you might not, but I'm going to tell you, anyway.

UN Category: Liberal Democratic Socialists
Civil Rights: Good
Economy: Fair
Political Freedoms: Superb

The Most Serene Republic of Cutabaria is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, renowned for its burgeoning starfish population. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 423 million love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Education, although Social Welfare and Law & Order are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 46%, but much higher for the wealthy. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising fourteen-year-old boys selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Voting has become a nightmare since everyone keeps selecting "None of the above", police officers are seen patrolling the streets armed with satellite-guided truncheons, referenda can be called for any law at the request of at least one third of the voting population, and citizens are remarkably well involved in the political process. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Cutabaria's national animal is the starfish, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the chocolate bar.

I have also tracked down a copy of Max Barry's book, "Jennifer Government", which is what Nationstates is all about - and if I get an hour or so, I'll write a review of it. For now, I'll just say it's like Ben Elton without the diatribes. That's good, by the way.