The United States of Printer493 is a colossal, orderly nation, notable for its pith helmet sales, public floggings, and devotion to social welfare. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 6.637 billion Printer493ians 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 large, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 87.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Printer493ian economy, worth a remarkable 1,090 trillion cards a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Retail industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is extensive. Average income is an impressive 164,353 cards, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Twins move across the country to avoid being accused of the other's crimes, the nation is proudly the least fertile in Two, the banshee wail foretells skies of death, and arguments about toilet seats being left up or down get surprisingly heated. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Printer493's national animal is the legendary, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Printer493 is ranked 258,593^rd in the world and 1,220^th in Two for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 20,379.89 Standard Monetary Units.