The Watchfires of MR-1 is a titanic, safe nation, notable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, complete lack of prisons, and suspicion of poets. The hard-nosed, devout population of 21.578 billion MR-1ians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 33.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The strong MR-1ian economy, worth a remarkable 1,445 trillion $$s a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Soda Sales, Book Publishing, and Basket Weaving. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 66,995 $$s, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Access to the woods is only granted to those who bring a small shrubbery, the men in trenchcoats hanging around playgrounds are actually police officers, exports are stamped with "made by the invisible hand you commies", and people boast about their low income on their dating profiles. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. MR-1's national animal is the Death's-head hawkmoth, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

MR-1 is ranked 112,545^th in the world and 1^st in Mount Rushmore for Safest, scoring 78.56 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.