The Cybernetic Utopia of Steampunk Ariel is a mammoth, socially progressive nation, ruled by S'C'U'T'T'L'E with an even hand, and renowned for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, punitive income tax rates, and restrictive gun laws. The compassionate, hard-working, cheerful population of 9.676 billion Cybernetic Mermaids have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and look forward to their next free and open election, to be held on an as-yet unannounced date.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Atlantica. The average income tax rate is 71.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Cybernetic economy, worth a remarkable 1,195 trillion seashells a year, is led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Retail, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is notable. Average income is an impressive 123,549 seashells, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.5 times as much as the poorest.

The best way to be heard in politics is to speak softly and carry a big comedy prop, some members of Parliament are illiterate, in court almost every witness is a hostile witness, and no one born in Steampunk Ariel can fix a leaky faucet. Crime is totally unknown. Steampunk Ariel's national animal is the clockwork crayon ponyfish, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Animism.

Steampunk Ariel is ranked 319,735^th in the world and 17,096^th in Lazarus for Largest Trout Fishing Sector, scoring -10.58 on the Nemo Depletion Efficiency Index.