The Democratic Republic of Paratinas is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its national health service, absence of drug laws, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic population of 2.349 billion Paratinasians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 31.6%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but inefficient Paratinasian economy, worth 88.8 trillion Plinks a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Furniture Restoration, Woodchip Exports, and Basket Weaving. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 37,802 Plinks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

The Paratinas City Film Festival recently voted 'Paratinasian Getting Hit By Football' as best film, government officials sit helplessly as they are labelled 'Pompous Womples' by celebrities, a bill to outlaw math homework has been submitted, and scientists on maritime expeditions return with a healthy glow. Crime is totally unknown. Paratinas's national animal is the Gryphon, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Paratinas is ranked 42,166^th in the world and 2^nd in Arborhaven for Most Cultured, scoring 74 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.