“If I could create an ideal country from scratch, then I would want it to be an island, because those are harder to invade and easier to defend. I would want it to not be too far off the beaten path, however, because I would want to have the possibility of beneficial trading relationships with other countries. I would want it to be far enough away from the equator to have four distinct seasons, including a winter that is cold enough to kill off a good number of pests and pathogens. However, I would still want it close enough to the equator to have a good long growing season. I would also want it to sit astride strong and steady trade winds so that the development of wind power would be feasible. Somewhere around 45 degrees of latitude – probably North latitude, and probably in the middle of the Atlantic, would be ideal.

I would want the island to be large enough to host a varied topography of both level land and mountains, and thus able to support a variety of basic economic activities including agriculture, forestry, mining, as well as fishing. I would want it to get a good amount of precipitation and have an abundant fresh water supply.

I would want this island to be large enough to support a population of as much as 5–10 million people at a minimum, and maybe more. A population of this size would be necessary to support at least one or two world-class universities and a very diversified advanced economy.

Flag? Maybe a green circle in the middle of a blue field?”