The Planet of Volson is a colossal, genial nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, anti-smoking policies, and suspicion of poets. The cynical, devout population of 2.501 billion Volsonians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The large, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 70.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Volsonian economy, worth 263 trillion Imperial Dollars a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Furniture Restoration, and Woodchip Exports. Average income is an impressive 104,962 Imperial Dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.1 times as much as the poorest.

Volsonians ask their doctors whether chili peppers are right for them, Volson is increasingly belligerent on the international stage, a bill to outlaw math homework has been submitted, and enemy agents are generally eliminated with extreme prejudice. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Volson's national animal is the Kabasan Poverty Hound, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Volson is ranked 45,146^th in the world and 8^th in Firmament for Most Extensive Public Healthcare, scoring 3,335.37 on the Theresa-Nightingale Rating.