The Republic of The Past and The Future is a huge, cultured nation, notable for its compulsory military service, complete lack of prisons, and avowedly heterosexual populace. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 215 million Past and The Futureans are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 30.2%.

The powerhouse Past and The Futurean economy, worth 17.7 trillion Guldens a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Tourism. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 82,265 Guldens, with the richest citizens earning 7.9 times as much as the poorest.

Travellers are often forcibly evicted by torch-bearing mobs, the "boy who cried wolf" policy makes sick people reluctant to call an ambulance, medical staff can legally quiet people who ask for a second helping of Salisbury steak, and baby boys who pick up pink crayons are sent to a psychiatric ward. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Past and The Future's national animal is the Beaver, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

The Past and The Future is ranked 174,807^th in the world and 2,248^th in the West Pacific for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 88.68 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.