The Swirling Stars of Merethin is a mammoth, safe nation, ruled by Iris with a fair hand, and renowned for its smutty television, compulsory vegetarianism, and enforced nudity. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 6.068 billion Merethinians 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.

The enormous, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Merethin City. The average income tax rate is 99.6%.

The frighteningly efficient Merethinian economy, worth a remarkable 1,316 trillion golden coins a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing and Tourism. Average income is an amazing 216,875 golden coins, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Students consistently complain that the wi-fi ate their homework, the government's giant servers are often used as a tourist trap, the Merethinian Intelligence Agency relies on internet search engines to know what is happening overseas, and artists count down the years until Iris is allowed to listen to their music. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Merethin's national animal is the axolotl, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Star Sister.

Merethin is ranked 2,384^th in the world and 12^th in Starlight for Smartest Citizens, with 183.2 quips per hour.