by Max Barry

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The Health Insurance Claim of Thomas Becket

“Ouch, my head hurts.”

Category: Iron Fist Consumerists
Civil Rights:
Few
Economy:
Frightening
Political Freedoms:
Few

Regional Influence: Truckler

Location: The Card Mine

OverviewPoliciesPeopleGovernmentEconomyRankTrendCards

Thomas Becket

Population8.36 billion

CapitalCanterbury Cathedral
LeaderSaint Thomas of Canterbury
FaithRoman Catholicism

CurrencyPound sterling
AnimalCornish Chough

The Health Insurance Claim of Thomas Becket is a colossal, efficient nation, ruled by Saint Thomas of Canterbury with an iron fist, and notable for its pith helmet sales, free-roaming dinosaurs, and suspicion of poets. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless population of 8.36 billion Candles are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The enormous, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Canterbury Cathedral. The average income tax rate is 89.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Thomas Becketian economy, worth a remarkable 1,532 trillion Pound sterlings a year, is quite specialized and mostly comprised of black market activity, especially in Retail, Uranium Mining, Arms Manufacturing, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Average income is an impressive 183,355 Pound sterlings, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.8 times as much as the poorest.

Thousands of former pirates can be found peddling knockoff products in flea markets, mystics are claiming that a simultaneous rise in scepticism and education budgets is correlation rather than causation, it is quite common for bar patrons to discuss Wittgenstein over cordials and games of backgammon, and candidates celebrate "free speech" by spraying champagne all over anyone who shows up to a rally. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Thomas Becket's national animal is the Cornish Chough, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Roman Catholicism.

Thomas Becket is ranked 92,761st in the world and 50th in The Card Mine for Most Stationary, with 495.80150907572 days.

Top
1%
Most Subsidized Industry: 897thMost Politically Apathetic Citizens: 1,401stLargest Mining Sector: 2,159thLargest Black Market: 2,785thMost Advanced Public Education: 2,861stTop
5%
Most Avoided: 3,311thLargest Retail Industry: 3,884thMost Corrupt Governments: 3,924thLargest Insurance Industry: 3,934thMost Ignorant Citizens: 5,173rdMost Extensive Public Healthcare: 5,852ndMost Advanced Defense Forces: 6,250thLargest Welfare Programs: 7,162ndMost Efficient Economies: 9,240thNudest: 11,116thHighest Average Tax Rates: 11,313thHighest Average Incomes: 12,976thHighest Poor Incomes: 14,210thTop
10%
Most Valuable International Artwork: 15,169thMost Advanced Law Enforcement: 15,373rdLargest Governments: 16,600thHighest Economic Output: 17,401stMost Developed: 27,840thLargest Arms Manufacturing Sector: 27,887th
Top
5%
Most Advanced Public Education: 2nd in the regionTop
10%
Longest Average Lifespans: 4th in the regionLargest Welfare Programs: 4th in the regionMost Developed: 4th in the regionLargest Insurance Industry: 5th in the regionMost Subsidized Industry: 6th in the regionMost Extensive Public Healthcare: 6th in the region

National Happenings

Most Recent Government Activity:

  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, candidates celebrate "free speech" by spraying champagne all over anyone who shows up to a rally.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, it is quite common for bar patrons to discuss Wittgenstein over cordials and games of backgammon.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, mystics are claiming that a simultaneous rise in scepticism and education budgets is correlation rather than causation.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, thousands of former pirates can be found peddling knockoff products in flea markets.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, Canterbury Cathedral's back alleys are rife with sausage eating.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, the Thomas Becketian Intelligence Agency has put 'Project Quantum Refrigerator' on hold indefinitely.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, the nation is in perpetual campaign mode.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, elected officials often serve for decades in a single term.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, tough diplomacy is often best handled with a nutcracker.
  • : Following new legislation in Thomas Becket, the secret ingredient is love (and MSG).

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