The Economics of Star Trek, Part 1

It has been said that Star Trek: The Next Generation (henceforth TNG) was the Trek Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, always wanted to make. It was the version in which he could expound fully on the political, economic, and philosophical issues he had always wanted to explore in the Original Series (TOS), but couldn't because of the censorship the TV networks enforced in the 60's. I have always found this explanation difficult to believe, given some of the subject matter Star Trek managed to get on the air at the time. I have always found it more credible that his views actually changed, or evolved, in the twenty years between the two series. Of course, not having known the man, anything I say about it is, at best, educated guesswork. But one thing is certain: in many ways, the tones of the two series are very different.

This article is about one of the most glaring differences between the two series: their respective portrayals of the economic system of the future. In TOS, actually, very little is said about it. But what is there seems to indicate that the economic system of the United Federation of Planets in the 23rd Century is a free market, or at least a relatively free market. The existence of currency is beyond question. In the episode The Devil in the Dark, for example, Kirk asks Spock if he knows what Starfleet has invested in him. Kirk cuts Spock off when Spock begins to recite the figure for him. In The Trouble with Tribbles Cyrano Jones sells tribbles to both Enterprise crew members and inhabitants of Deep Space Station K-7. In I, Mudd Spock asks interstellar con-man and fugitive Harry Mudd if he pays royalties to the owners of patents Mudd was using, and of course, Harry being Harry, he doesn't. In The Devil in the Dark, again, we witness Kirk tell the manager of the mining operation on the planet Janus VI that having the help of the native Hortas in his mining operation will make him "embarrassingly rich". The list goes on and on.

The only seemingly contradictory evidence comes from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. In this film, released in 1986, the year before the premier of TNG, the crew travels back in time to the 20th Century. Kirk makes the statement, "They're still using money, we've got to get some.". He then sells his antique glasses for $100.00. In a pizza joint with Dr. Gillian Taylor, Taylor picks up the tab for Kirk and asks him, "Don't tell me you don't have money in the 23rd Century!", to which Kirk replies, "Well, we don't!". These two instances are not sufficient to conclude that humans do not use money at all in the 23rd Century. Indeed, in the novel of Star Trek IV, it is stated that what is meant when it's said that humans don't use money in the future is that they don't use paper money or coins; all transactions are done via electronic means, deducting or adding money to bank accounts, or something similar (it's been a while since I've read the book). It sounds very much like modern debit cards. Given the overwhelming evidence for currency in TOS, this seems a reasonable interpretation of Kirk's statements in the film.

Beyond this, nothing (that I can recall) is really ever said about the nature of the Federation's economic system. Next week, in Part 2, we'll be looking at economics in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which makes some very definite statements about the subject. And, as we shall see, TNG's portrayal is very different from what was seen in TOS.

Welcome

As the name implies, this blog is my way of sharing my criticisms (and praises) of Star Trek with whomever may find them interesting (all four of you). I'm what you may call an original Trekkie (I refuse to call myself a "Trekker"...but that's a subject for another posting lol), and the Original Series is my first love in Trek. I got into Trek pre-TNG, waaay back in '86. So in my humble opinion, the adventures of Captain Kirk and crew are the first and best Trek, period.

Virtually everything that forms my worldview will, I'm sure, find it's way into this. I plan on talking about the science and technology of Star Trek, the philosophy and ethics, economics, religion, just about every aspect of Star Trek's portrayal of the future that one can think of. Not to mention the fans themselves!

It's my hope that at least a few people will find this interesting enough to check out, so that it doesn't become nothing more than an online argument (or agreement) between myself and my friends. I'm sure there are about 1,572,968 Star Trek blogs and websites out there, so why read this one? Well, I hope that my take on the show and it's portrayal of the future will have a different tone than most sites out there, and that even if I'm not agreed with, then at least my rantings will inspire thought and discussion. I'm going to try to post at least once a week. Welcome and I hope you enjoy it.