The United States of Maniche is a mid-sized, safe nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. The hard-working, democratic population of 50 million Manicheans enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The relatively small, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Education, and Defense. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 8.8%.

The strong Manichean economy, worth 3.71 trillion Shays a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Uranium Mining, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is 74,158 Shays, with the richest citizens earning 6.7 times as much as the poorest.

Every workday begins with group therapy, recorded music can be rented but not bought from record companies, punitive tariffs protect local industry, and military spending is on the increase. Crime is well under control. Maniche's national animal is the Nigreto, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Maniche is ranked 88,229^th in the world and 187^th in Refugia for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring 45.34 on the Kitten Softness Rating.