The Republic of Marek2 is a large, genial nation, remarkable for its rum-swilling pirates, irreverence towards religion, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic population of 119 million Marek2ians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, outspoken government prioritizes Administration, although Education, Welfare, and Healthcare are also considered important, while Spirituality isn't funded at all. The average income tax rate is 50.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The strong Marek2ian economy, worth 7.36 trillion Mareks a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Trout Farming, Furniture Restoration, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 61,879 Mareks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Future forecasters fearfully discuss grey goo and human obsolescence, exam halls are littered with used needles and empty pill bottles, tabloids publicly shun nurses for not calling home on the weekends, and five-year-olds who refuse to line up on command get gold stars. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Marek2's national animal is the baboon, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Marek2 is ranked 55,080^th in the world and 723^rd in The East Pacific for Smartest Citizens, with 41.99 quips per hour.