The Democratic Free Republic of Karlando is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by Karl McSwansson with an even hand, and remarkable for its daily referendums, punitive income tax rates, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, cheerful population of 18.992 billion Karlandonians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Karlandonia City. The average income tax rate is 98.4%.

The frighteningly efficient Karlandonan economy, worth a remarkable 3,549 trillion Krawas a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing and Tourism. Average income is an impressive 186,870 Krawas, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Shoppers have literally had their hands full since plastic bags were banned, several citizens have complained about scientists abducting their pets for experimentation, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal, and search-and-rescue organisations are the biggest employer in the country. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Karlando's national animal is the Swan, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Swanism.

Karlando is ranked 327,446^th in the world and 679^th in 10000 Islands for Largest Timber Woodchipping Industry, scoring -24.54 on the Tasmanian Pulp Environmental Export Index.