The Ties That Bind of Track is a colossal, safe nation, ruled by damsel in distress with an even hand, and notable for its compulsory military service, disturbing lack of elderly people, and ban on automobiles. The hard-nosed population of 4.661 billion rails are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tehachapi. The average income tax rate is 33.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The large but inefficient sleeper economy, worth 197 trillion flattened pennies a year, is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Door-to-door Insurance Sales, Woodchip Exports, and Soda Sales. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 42,422 flattened pennies, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Ten-year-olds regularly found their own political parties, political visitors are forced to stop ten paces from damsel in distress's throne, armed security details escort librarians to their homes, and "Darwin's Disease" is a growing cause of death. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Track's national animal is the frog, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is standard gauge.

Track is ranked 114,337^th in the world and 30^th in Seinfeld for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 742.17 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.