The Armed Republic of Purisect is a massive, cultured nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, ubiquitous missile silos, and devotion to social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, humorless population of 2.873 billion Purisectians 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 enormous, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Rence. The average income tax rate is 90.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Purisectian economy, worth 343 trillion Separats a year, is quite specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Information Technology, and Cheese Exports. Black market activity is extensive. Average income is an impressive 119,607 Separats, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Hundreds of subterranean tunnels are being built as part of "Project Morlock", public ferries only carry enough lifeboats for the first-class passengers, the nation honors the inventor of the three-wheeled steam-powered Purisectian weed picker, and real power lies not in the debating room but with those who decide what is debated. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Purisect's national animal is the Canis dirus, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Purisect is ranked 146,740^th in the world and 2,930^th in the South Pacific for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 66.9 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.