Are there any good reasons to not want to be in the Federation?

[suarezguy]

I think whenever we see someone complaining about the Federation or otherwise not wanting to be in it, wanting to leave it it seems to be just general xenophobia/species supremacism but could there be other reasons that are not at least directly based on antagonism against others?

There can be argument that being part of huge organization makes it, and all parts of it, too much of a rival to/target for other powers but the Federation does seem pretty genuinely non aggressive, only defensive, and the other powers just generally aggressive, hard to see how they wouldn't just as much or more go after smaller groups, societies or just individual planets.

And the other major reason for preferring independence is just to have/allow more autonomy and sovereignty but the Federation already seems to let its worlds have a lot of that, very few actual requirements or limitations.

 

[Oddish]

"Rapture" gave a valid, if temporary reason. I think that Bajor did join soon after the Dominion war ended, though.

 

[Tenacity]

but the Federation already seems to let its worlds have a lot of that, very few actual requirements or limitations

That says you don't lose anything, but you already had that. What do you gain?

From being on this board for a while, some fans said that the Federation becomes the governing body above your government, and not just that but also dictates changes in your culture and society, you conform. Your military becomes the Federations military; your starships are incorporated into starfleet.

Anything illegal in the Federation is now illegal on your worlds. Self-determination is gone.

Some fans suggest that religion is suppressed, because of course.

The TOS Federation seemed much better, the Federation was the weaker of the pairing. But was that still the case with TNG and onward?

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

The Illyrians and the Coppelians would have good reasons.

 

[Oddish]

Some fans suggest that religion is suppressed, because of course.

There's no evidence of that.

 

[korblborp]

suppression of religion? that seems the least likely. while most human characters aren't particulary religious, a lot of the nonhuman ones are, even vulcans (though i don't think they would like it if you said so).
many member worlds also continue to operate their own space fleets independent of Starfleet.
the Federation directly imposing it's own laws and culture on member worlds internal governance would be violating the Prime Directive, and some member worlds are questionable in how they even fit into the Fedration's values and others keep a lot of what would seem like it ought to be basic information really close to their vests, which would also seem to preclude such intervention...

 

[Oddish]

Also, there was never any issue with religion when Bajor was petitioning for Federation membership. The only issue Starfleet seemed to have concerning the Bajoran religion was that one of their own was a major figure in it.

 

[Shawnster]

The Federation'enemies become your enemies once you join the Federation. During the TOS era one could not be a Federation member and maintain alliances with the Klingons or Romulans, for example.

 

[The Wormhole]

There is no suppression of religion in the Federation. The Enterprise had its own chapel in TOS. Christianity was still being practiced as of DS9 S7, a Hindu holiday was being observed on the Enterprise in TNG and Native Americans still practice their spiritual beliefs. And that's before we factor in all the various alien religions seen even amongst Federation members. Now it's true Roddenberry felt religion would have no place in his perfect future, but that's never been reflected with the onscreen canonical material in the franchise. Ever. Trek's future, as presented on screen is not secular at all.

 

[Nyotarules]

One good reason , too many humans

 

[Shawnster]

Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond? Join the Federation and become the small fish. Either stay independent or join a much smaller union and become the big fish.

 

[Turtletrekker]

The Federation isn't perfect, despite the propaganda. There could be any number of good reasons why a society or a colony would not want to join up with the monolithic Federation. As for suppression of religion, there was mention of a Christmas party in TOS, a mention of the Hindu celebration of lights in TNG, and Cassidy Yates told Sisko that her mother would prefer that they'd be married by a minister rather than a Admiral in DS9, so I'm not seeing it.