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“Et praeessent solum fortissimum”

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The Kingdom of The Hessa Islands is a colossal, cultured nation, ruled by Nathan II with an iron fist, and renowned for its compulsory military service, ban on automobiles, and aversion to nipples. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 9.924 billion Hessa Islanders are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Education, and Defense. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Carthago Nova. The average income tax rate is 69.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Hessa Islandsian economy, worth a remarkable 1,525 trillion Hessa Marks a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Tourism, and Retail. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 153,701 Hessa Marks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Arguments about toilet seats being left up or down get surprisingly heated, bargain-hunting is considered unpatriotic, many aides in Nathan II's office are known to be serial jaywalkers, and complaining about Christmas music in October is a ho-ho-horrendous crime. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Hessa Islands's national animal is the Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

The Hessa Islands is ranked 13,295^th in the world and 24^th in Fifth Empire for Largest Black Market, with 387 trillion Standard Monetary Units.