The Cybernetic Utopia of Steampunk Ariel is a massive, genial nation, ruled by S'C'U'T'T'L'E with an even hand, and notable for its daily referendums, frequent executions, and restrictive gun laws. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 3.33 billion Cybernetic Mermaids enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Atlantica. The average income tax rate is 69.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Cybernetic economy, worth 398 trillion seashells a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Retail, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 119,716 seashells, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Michelin-star chefs are being called on to prepare menus for six-year-olds, foreign governments are threatened if they so much as mention the word "election", a bill to outlaw math homework has been submitted, and school lockers are filled with fancy underwear. 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 201,346^th in the world and 9,062^nd in The North Pacific for Lowest Overall Tax Burden, scoring -70.2 on the Hayek Index.