The Capitalist Semi-Democracy of New Rapids is a colossal, genial nation, ruled by Consuless Prryctīna Agrīdålče with an even hand, and remarkable for its rum-swilling pirates, parental licensing program, and daily referendums. The compassionate, hard-working population of 6.179 billion Rapidians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The minute, corrupt government, or what there is of one, juggles the competing demands of Industry, Administration, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Cūtīang. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 3.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Rapidian economy, worth 817 trillion rooks a year, is led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Gambling. Black market activity is frequent. Average income is an impressive 132,335 rooks, with the richest citizens earning 8.7 times as much as the poorest.

Planes can be grounded for months simply because an inspector "didn't like the color", increasing inclusiveness is a sign of the times, plain-clothes police officers follow Dàguó tourists everywhere they go, and wait staff claim to like it when odorous customers flirt with them. Crime, especially youth-related, is all-pervasive, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. New Rapids's national animal is the striped hen, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Hgadyvårrmulum.

New Rapids is ranked 15,903^rd in the world and 34^th in Karma for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 303.82 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.