Torvaldia

Founded in December 2003 by separatist hackers and disgruntled progressives, the Open Source Republic of Torvaldia stretches across three climate zones from the fertile woodlands to the majestic mountains directly south of Great Gay Lake. The progressive government has consistently been a staunch supporter of educational opportunity, environmentalism, and social responsibility. It's expansive (though mostly powerless) police force, coupled with visionary social policies and a lack of laws in general, have kept crime nonexistant in this land since inception. Torvaldia frequently appears at the top of the list in various UN reports on the region, consistently boasting the best weather, most environmentaly friendly policies, and has the smartest ,nicest, and most compassionate citizens of any other nation in the region.

The economy is definitively socialist, with nearly all of the nation's citizens working directly for the government, which owns all means of production. However, a small, vibrant private sector has developed around online gambling, primarily consisting of Torvaldian teenagers setting up poker sites which attract players from other nations.

The government is a democratic republic, with each province having one representative in the nation's parliament. The true power resides with the Prime Code Slinger (PCS) and his appointed advisors, known collectively as the Kernel. Founding father Jack Ihn served as PCS from the beginning of the nation until his assassination. Lance Johnson is serving as Acting PCS until the resolution of the special elections currently being campaigned.

Although there is no shortage of political parties, four have been dubbed the most influential: the Torvaldia Hackers Union, the Technopagans of Torvaldia, the Peace Through Preparedness Party, and the Brick-Throwing Queens. Until recently, the THU and ToT controlled the parliament through a coalition.

Torvaldia's short history has not been without it's fair share of turmoil. When the Carnivorous Shrub Invasion began in late 2004, Torvaldia was forced to abandon it's isolationist policies and enter the arena of international politics. A team led by Dr. Dieter Wierdmitten developed an opalescent goo which immobilized the ravenous bush, allowing the regional strike force to finish off the vile vegetation. The victory was to be a bitter one, however, when it was discovered that Environmental Director and Wiccan High Priestess Sappho Dianic had absconded with a live sample of the shrub and taken hostage a Buffysylvanian scientist, thus raising the specter of environmental terrorism across the region.

On 11 June 2005, the nation entered its darkest period, when PCS Ihn was assassinated by an as-yet unknown gunman. Civil Director Lance Johnson quickly stepped in and prevented the nation from descending into chaos. Due to the dissolution of the ruling parliamentary coalition, special elections are currently being held for all parliamentary seats as well as for PCS. The THU, led by Information Director Chip Pooler, is expected to win a parliamentary majority and the PCS slot by a slim majority.