The Republic of Vara 12 is a colossal, cultured nation, notable for its museums and concert halls, compulsory vegetarianism, and smutty television. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless, devout population of 7.199 billion Vara 12ians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 73.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Vara 12ian economy, worth a remarkable 1,282 trillion Object Permanences a year, is broadly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Woodchip Exports, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 178,087 Object Permanences, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.2 times as much as the poorest.

Pawn shop reality shows dominate basic cable, the tenet of free speech is held dear, Leader's told that love often manifests itself through homicidal four-lettered litanies, and stranded astronauts hitch rides on foreign spacecraft to get home. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vara 12's national animal is the Question Mark, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Vara 12 is ranked 30,676^th in the world and 228^th in Eye for Lowest Crime Rates, with 82.31 law-abiding acts per hour.