My only thing is I disagree with the whole “complete dictatorial police state, but it’s cool because at least they’re a benevolent dictatorial police state” thing. Like yes every government other than the federation is worse, but just you try to have your own laws and customs contrary to Federation wishes. Better hope they can show up in time to save your ass from threats foreign or federation because no planets or people on them are allowed to have weapons, for instance.
I’ll bet (without knowing for sure) Roddenberry’s idea of the Federation didnt start out as a police state. But like with currency, it is hard for many writers to imagine humanity evolving past the need for policing our own and enforcing laws.
Ronald D. Moore commented, “By the time I joined TNG, Gene had decreed that money most emphatically did NOT exist in the Federation, nor did ‘credits’ and that was that.”
“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” - release date: 26 November 1986
“Encounter at Farpoint” - original air date: 28 September 1987
“The Bonding” - the first episode of TNG Ronald D. Moore wrote, and sold as a spec script before getting hired as part of the writing staff, original air date: 23 October 1989
There is plenty of references to money in TOS, and not merely as a figure of speech.
My only thing is I disagree with the whole “complete dictatorial police state, but it’s cool because at least they’re a benevolent dictatorial police state” thing. Like yes every government other than the federation is worse, but just you try to have your own laws and customs contrary to Federation wishes. Better hope they can show up in time to save your ass from threats foreign or federation because no planets or people on them are allowed to have weapons, for instance.
I’ll bet (without knowing for sure) Roddenberry’s idea of the Federation didnt start out as a police state. But like with currency, it is hard for many writers to imagine humanity evolving past the need for policing our own and enforcing laws.
I could see that being the case.
Roddenberry didn’t imagine a moneyless future; that was an invention of “The Voyage Home”, which Roddenberry had no involvement with.
“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” - release date: 26 November 1986
“Encounter at Farpoint” - original air date: 28 September 1987
“The Bonding” - the first episode of TNG Ronald D. Moore wrote, and sold as a spec script before getting hired as part of the writing staff, original air date: 23 October 1989
There is plenty of references to money in TOS, and not merely as a figure of speech.
I don’t care, I was just refuting “Roddenberry didn’t imagine a moneyless future” because it’s categorically untrue.
He didn’t imagine it. He just took the ball and ran with it.