The United States of Calicate is a gargantuan, genial nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate population of 12.642 billion Calicateans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Dallington. The average income tax rate is 97.4%.

The frighteningly efficient Calicatean economy, worth a remarkable 3,220 trillion cal dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an amazing 254,763 cal dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

The newest shade developed by Calicate's dye industry has been dubbed 'Agent Orange', a third of Calicateans are e-certified CEOs, construction workers evacuate work sites after finding sharp rocks on the ground, and manufacturers of biodegradable plastics have to wait for months to show evidence of organic decomposition. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Calicate's national animal is the Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Calicate is ranked 4,581^st in the world and 204^th in Lazarus for Most Cultured, scoring 176 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.