The Republic of Forward Observers is a small, socially progressive nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, compulsory military service, and absence of drug laws. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 26 million Forward Observersians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The tiny, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 8.7%.

The strong Forward Observersian economy, worth 1.25 trillion Ding Dong a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Door-to-door Insurance Sales industry, with major contributions from Furniture Restoration, Trout Farming, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is 48,020 Ding Dong, with the richest citizens earning 8.4 times as much as the poorest.

The tenet of free speech is held dear, euthanasia is illegal, education and welfare spending are on the rise, and gossip magazines are more interested in astrological stars than celebrity ones. Crime is moderate, probably because of the absence of a police force. Forward Observers's national animal is the Screw Worm, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Forward Observers is ranked 53,709^th in the world and 25^th in Sun Tzu the Art of War for Largest Trout Fishing Sector, scoring 4,537.78 on the Nemo Depletion Efficiency Index.