The Planetary Federation of Independent Mercury is a colossal, efficient nation, ruled by Overseer Cyote Rosevelt with an even hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, democratic population of 5.423 billion Mercuryians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Merctoria. The average income tax rate is 91.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Market Socialist economy, worth 759 trillion Mercuryian Silver Credits a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Retail. Average income is an impressive 140,052 Mercuryian Silver Credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Leather-clad individuals can be seen walking their slaves in public parks, the doctor has cold hands, foreign leaders who don't applaud Overseer Cyote Rosevelt's speeches are regarded as enemies of Independent Mercury, and the government has cut taxes in the face of widespread tax evasion. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Independent Mercury's national animal is the Space Rock, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities, and its national religion is Progression.

Independent Mercury is ranked 281,805^th in the world and 10,764^th in Lazarus for Most Primitive, scoring -369.71 on the Scary Big Number Scale.