The United Commonwealth of Western Linford is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Max Markington with an even hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space, compulsory military service, and smutty television. The hard-nosed population of 1.782 billion Western Linfordians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Albrighton. The average income tax rate is 38.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The strong Western Linfordian economy, worth 139 trillion francs a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Book Publishing, and Furniture Restoration. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 78,246 francs, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Major archaeological findings are frequently bulldozed to make way for new buildings, the transit system is throwing poor people under the bus, creative compliance measures ensure that high-ranking officials live in luxury while the country's coffers collect cobwebs, and dozens of additional foreign policy specialists have been sent to the country's WA Mission. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Western Linford's national animal is the parrot, which can occasionally be seen dodging aircraft in the nation's cities, and its national religion is Balism.

Western Linford is ranked 224,986^th in the world and 7,697^th in Lazarus for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 48.52 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.