My little island kingdom has been declared a “world benchmark” for political freedoms. Yay.
UN Category: New York Times Democracy
Civil Rights: Excellent
Economy: Good
Political Freedoms: World Benchmark
The Constitutional Monarchy of Applethorne is a huge, socially progressive nation, renowned for its burgeoning polar bear population. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 446 million enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people’s right to vote held sacrosanct.
The government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, corrupt morass — is mainly concerned with Education, although the Environment and Healthcare are on the agenda. The average income tax rate is 41%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Information Technology, Cheese Exports, and Book Publishing industries.
A National Academy regulates grammar and usage, abortions are routinely performed in Applethorne’s hospitals, all tariffs have been abolished, and truth is often impossible to tell from fiction on the evening news. Crime — especially youth-related — is moderate. Applethorne’s national animal is the polar bear, which frolics freely in the nation’s many lush forests, and its currency is the pound.
Not perfect, by any means, but …