The United States of Ephraim-UT- is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, compulsory military service, and ritual sacrifices. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 4.21 billion Ephraim-UT-ians 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 medium-sized, corrupt, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 66.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ephraim-UT-ian economy, worth 617 trillion dollars a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is a large, well-organized, broadly diversified black market in Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Uranium Mining. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is an impressive 146,663 dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Soldiers with colourful mohawks make themselves perfect targets for snipers, serial killers who are released early distribute death but not their seed, politicians can't accept birthday presents from their own children, and radio stations are forbidden to play anything with too much drum or bass. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ephraim-UT-'s national animal is the bald eagle, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Ephraim-UT- is ranked 23,500^th in the world and 79^th in Aerospace for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 255.73 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.