The Catholic State of PariaLand

The Catholic State of PariaLand is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by Leader with an even hand, and renowned for its anti-smoking policies. The hard-nosed, intelligent population of 1.562 billion PariaLandians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Religion & Spirituality, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Vatican City. The average income tax rate is 34%. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

People have to sneak out of the country in order to have sex, children are sent to either religious or secular schools, criminals are put to death while cuddling their favourite teddy bear, and rioting during the nation's hosting of ORDER caused one million Vitas of property damage. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. PariaLand's national animal is the Doe, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Traditional Latin Rite Catholicism, and its currency is the Vita.