Start Trek Federation Aggressors Collect Protection Moneys

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Patroklos


I don't see how any of that is a responce to you quote of mine?

Obviously, the Federation is showing up and fleecing non-members

[Patroklos]

Thats what I observed on the show, but that isn't what the OP said.

[Dis]

I just want to know how they get by without money

[Whoha]

something for nothing machines.

[Dis]

what incentive is there to work and not spend all day in a holodeck?

Yes I know in one episode they showed that man had evolved past the idea of working for money, and did it soley for the betterment of themselves.

[Impaler[WrG]]

Their are certainly enough overtly aggressive , jack-booted expansionists in the Galaxy (early Klingons, Romulans, Cardasians, Dominion, etc etc) that a weaker race would see such a Federation protection racket as their only hope, even if it was the quasi Delian-League as the article suggests its better then the alternatives. Though I find the articles lack considerable imagination in how the Federation could work, it simply tries to Ret-con away large chunks of what we have been told rater then explore alternatives.

Its an established fact in the Star Trek universe that Star fleet personnel are predominantly human and the vast majority of Star Fleet vessels are constructed in the Sol system. Interplanetary taxation as the means by which this force is supported though is never suggested, further more with the exception of rare aka un-replicatable materials interplanetary transport would be very impractical (your burning Anti-matter to transport what Iron ore?).

I suspect the main inter-planetary trade is in information, we already see how information is becoming a commodity today. I imagine that Federation member planets receive access to Federation technology in exchange for their own developments and the rights for the Federation to recruit star fleet officers and scientists from their world (essentially the Federation is a giant Open Source License). Earths and other Star Fleet institutes are the central R&D hub for the federations scientific efforts and is always on the cutting edge, access to that information stream and the military protection of Star Fleet are the main motivators to remaining a member. Member planets pay 'taxes' only in the sense that they are expected to contribute something to the common good of the federation, shirking and hording are likely punished by internal information embargoing in combination with public shaming that quickly force a planet back onto the accepted path.

[PLATO]

Pax Federation!

Pay up or its General Order 24 for your planet buddy...and welcome to the Federation.


*Didn't anybody else think that Scotty unquestionably accepting General Order 24 showed a lot about how the true federation really works?

[Proteus_MST]

Originally posted by Dis
what incentive is there to work and not spend all day in a holodeck?

Yes I know in one episode they showed that man had evolved past the idea of working for money, and did it soley for the betterment of themselves.

To be honest, I would also wonder how, without money, McCoy got the antique glasses he brought as a present for Kirk (Star Trek IV).
I mean, do they have large warehoues where such stuff lies around, free for anyone to take?