The United Socialist States of Span is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by M Shobacus Maz with a fair hand, and remarkable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, compulsory vegetarianism, and restrictive gun laws. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful, devout population of 37.974 billion Spanners hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Maz. The average income tax rate is 84.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The strong Spanner economy, worth a remarkable 9,590 trillion spannies a year, is highly specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Tourism and Trout Farming. Average income is an amazing 252,546 spannies, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The regional delicacy of chocolate bombes is deadlier than an unexploded bomb, CEOs can't hear the term 'Fire Sale' without bursting into tears, the Finance Ministry posts hourly updates on where taxpayer money is spent, and a suspicious number of John Smiths are known to donate to Spanner politicians. Crime is totally unknown. Span's national animal is the donkey, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Span is ranked 205,438^th in the world and 9,574^th in The North Pacific for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -63.52 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.