The Democratic States of Greater Etherial is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Thomas Carter with an even hand, and notable for its public floggings, keen interest in outer space, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, devout population of 4.169 billion Greater Etherialians are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The enormous government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Aetherialis. The average income tax rate is 95.4%.

The frighteningly efficient Greater Etherialian economy, worth 645 trillion Ethers a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 154,942 Ethers, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

GE-SPAN viewership drops as MPs act their age, government negotiators never forget to say "pretty please" when begging for custody of its criminals, history textbook pages are used as impromptu tissues by distraught students, and the new 'Who Wants To Be A Politician' election debate auditions are more popular than the debates themselves. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Greater Etherial's national animal is the Phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Protestantism.

Greater Etherial is ranked 10,737^th in the world and 166^th in 10000 Islands for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 55.21 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.