The Commonwealth of DarkDefiance is a small, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space and suspicion of poets. The hard-working, devout population of 40 million DarkDefianceans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The tiny government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Welfare, and Spirituality. The average income tax rate is 9.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The strong DarkDefiancean economy, worth 2.55 trillion dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Gambling industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Arms Manufacturing, and Soda Sales. Average income is 63,723 dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.8 times as much as the poorest.

The government's foreign policy statements are less threatening than a World Assembly cease-and-desist letter, school lockers are filled with fancy underwear, clergy never mention brand names for fear of losing their government subsidies, and the nation's first space rocket -- sponsored by Eckie-Ecola and shaped like an enormous soda bottle -- is being developed. Crime is relatively low. DarkDefiance's national animal is the cobra chicken, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

DarkDefiance is ranked 82,374^th in the world and 1,702^nd in the South Pacific for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 96.85 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.