The United Socialist States of New Visdenburg is a massive, socially progressive nation, ruled by Prof C Ocks Uker with an even hand, and remarkable for its compulsory military service, irreverence towards religion, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate population of 1.837 billion Visdens enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Visburg. The average income tax rate is 76.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Visdenic economy, worth 141 trillion Visdenic Pounds a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Average income is 76,811 Visdenic Pounds, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Prof C Ocks Uker lives life on the open road - complete with groupies, politicians "baring all" for the camera isn't always a figure of speech, nouveau riche farmers diligently take care of their golden calf herds, and people reciting Shakespeare have become a common sight. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. New Visdenburg's national animal is the Mallard Duck, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

New Visdenburg is ranked 13,472^nd in the world and 630^th in The North Pacific for Most Beautiful Environments, with 1,319.59 pounds of wildlife per square mile.