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Government in Star Trek
captclazorus
Member Posts: 377 Arc User
http://voices.yahoo.com/is-star-trek-communist-3331996.html?cat=9
I now that many of my fellow Americans are deeply prejudice against communism. I want to point out, even though this is a rather old document, that the writer is only partially true. Star Trek may have some communistic aspects, but those are only similarities. The Federation isn't even a Republic really. The only reason there is no free enterprise system any more is because there is no more money. Every one is equal. You don't need to work to survive.
About the lazy thing- human philosophy changed dramatically. All governments were destroyed in WWIII and so people were left guide less. Zefram Cochrane established a new philosophy, though unintentionally, to form a peaceful society of equality and learning and exploration. The Federation is beyond the comprehension of a modern day person. I think we all would be better off without money. Where there is money, there is greed.
I only wish I lived in such a society.
I now that many of my fellow Americans are deeply prejudice against communism. I want to point out, even though this is a rather old document, that the writer is only partially true. Star Trek may have some communistic aspects, but those are only similarities. The Federation isn't even a Republic really. The only reason there is no free enterprise system any more is because there is no more money. Every one is equal. You don't need to work to survive.
About the lazy thing- human philosophy changed dramatically. All governments were destroyed in WWIII and so people were left guide less. Zefram Cochrane established a new philosophy, though unintentionally, to form a peaceful society of equality and learning and exploration. The Federation is beyond the comprehension of a modern day person. I think we all would be better off without money. Where there is money, there is greed.
I only wish I lived in such a society.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
"Star Trek: Rubicon" Season 1, Season 2 A new era, a new time, a new crew, a new ship, a new mission...
"I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because it will never come again."- Jean-Luc Picard
"Star Trek: Rubicon" Season 1, Season 2 A new era, a new time, a new crew, a new ship, a new mission...
"I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because it will never come again."- Jean-Luc Picard
Post edited by captclazorus on
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Comments
I would say that Trek's ideology is that most basic human services are covered: education, healthcare, etc. It's clear they still use money and that some live larger then others.
What about gold-plated latinum in DS9? I don't think one can truly separate a human or semi-human or non-human from currency. Eventually someone will find a way to reintroduce it and find a way to control it for their own reasons (I was going to say "for their own good", but that sounded like a contradiction). Avarice will never die. It will simply find dark corners to hibernate in until it feels that there are those whose thoughts/feelings/actions can be influenced by the seductive power of greed (greed for money, greed for power, etc.).
The rule keeps all those troubles out of the show and this way keeps it focussed on adventure, exploration and drama from conflicts that are feeling more epic than paying bills.
And when we do get stories about money problems its usually involving Ferengis, so its presented as a light hearted comedy.
Just because you can get food, housing, education, and medical care for free, there still has to be a medium of exchange for other stuff. If I want something you have like a rare gemstone, or hundreds of years old antique or something I need something to exchange for it if you aren't going to give it for free. If Earth and the Federation didn't have any currency to let me do that people needing currency would have to trade items to the Ferengi for Latinum, giving them control over the Federation economy. It wouldn't make sense.
Also every country on Earth uniting is very unlikely, even if their governments were destroyed in WW3, successor states would spring up along similar boundries and have their own space programs, and I don't think a lot of them would be interested in peace with all the aliens we encounter. Given the history of the US and how it is still conducting itself and the way it dominates starfleet in the show I think it would look more like the mirror empire then Federation.
You really see this in DS9. On the one hand you had everyone hanging out in Quark's, who I think we can all agree was not giving food or drinks away for free. On the other, There is at least one episode involving Jake, where it mentions them not having money.
Voyager can't really be used as a benchmark. Replicator Rationing was specific to the fact that they had limited resources, If you used up the power on Voyager, you were basically stranded, So any use of resources was made scarce (and no don't ask me about the Holodeck, I can't explain it any better then you).
It's highly likely that they were thinking of "money" as being little green pieces of paper, obviously, but this is not the only means of exchange. There's numerous other monetary systems like barter where actual currency is not actually exchanged, but instead goods. Then there are voucher systems and stuff like Bitcoin....
I could go on, really.
The dilithium miners probably don't have the benefits of the Fed's post-scarcity society. The merchant Crusher was buying from wasn't a Fed either. No idea about Sisko's father, but who's to say that Fed restaurants need a currency system to run? And lol Quark... he definitely wasn't a Fed.
It's safe to say that Feds DO deal with currencies... but only when they come across another culture that does. But rest assured that the Fed's claim that money doesn't exist to them isn't as inconsistent as you think.
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Or, the rare gemstones and the antiques are public property?
But you are right. What about that one house at the lake with the beautyfull view. Housing maybe 'for free', but how do you settle who gets exactly what house? A lottery? The best houses are given away by a democratically elected commission of citizens, who award the best houses to citizens who have excelled, like governments these days give away medalls, awards and prizes?
There are countless of possible systems that could govern those different conflicts over who gets what stuff. And wether those systems work or not merely depends on wether or not the people want these systems to work, accept them, prefer the strength of the systems and tollerate their weaknesses.
This has to be the most flawed argument ever in the article Starfleet is more or less the military arm of the Federation, yes they state that Starfleet isn't military many times in star trek but they are the main defense for the Federation so they are in part military, and it is stated many times that their are risks wearing the uniform this isn't just from fighting its from the dangers of space travel so the whole argument that they join only to better humanity is a load of bull they join to explore and protect the Federation.
2. Totalitarian
While Earths Government isnt really explored in Star trek the federation is the UN in space which means members govern their own planet set rules ect but as members they do have guidelines and follow rules set out by the federation very much like we do now with the UN. As for United Earth we need to remember that almost all of the major governments were destroyed in world war 3 that and 6 million deaths its more than likely that all of earths nations had no choice but to join together in order to help each nation rebuild yet again we dont know how it works.
3. Opposed to Capitalism
It is never stated that the Federation is opposed to Capitalism The frenengi were supposed to be enemies of the Federation but not because they hated the fact they love money, the frenengi themselves dont follow what is considered fair business practice as a result they are considered untrustworthy when it comes to buying things from them.
granted there are some things that support the idea that Star trek is Communist the quote springs to mind. but this article does a very poor job of proving that.
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