The Armed States of Skalliad is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by the 27th President William Shepard with a fair hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and punitive income tax rates. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 898 million Skalliadians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized, corrupt, outspoken government prioritizes Defense, with Industry, Administration, and Healthcare also on the agenda, while Spirituality and International Aid receive no funds. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Skallia. The average income tax rate is 68.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Skalliadian economy, worth 158 trillion AS dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 176,514 AS dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Parents dread their examinations more than their children, Skallia's back alleys are rife with sausage eating, the nation has declared its intention to "stretch out", and buses are widely regarded as the safest way to travel. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Skalliad's national animal is the Bald Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Skalliad is ranked 12,389^th in the world and 215^th in Europe for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 365.74 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.