Meritocracy in Trek

[James H]

I ask this with a sense of fun, because the real reasons for this decision are obviously to tell tighter stories and create more drama and character development ...
But does anyone find it interesting that in the supposed meritocratic utopia of the Star Trek future, almost every Starfleet officer seems to have or use family connections to their advantage.
Look at the TNG bridge crew: Troi's mother is an ambassador, Worf comes from a ruling family, Riker's father pulls strings in Starfleet, Geordi's mum was a captain and his dad was a commander, Wesley is Beverly Crusher's son, and while Picard may not have Starfleet in his blood he clearly comes from immense wealth and privilege.
Elsewhere: Janeway's dad is a Vice Admiral, Paris's father is a captain
Even Spock and Kirk are son of an ambassador and a captain respectively (presumably in both Prime and Kelvin timelines) along with Burnham of course.
While there are exceptions such as Sisko and O'Brien, maybe this explains why a nobody like Harry Kim never got that promotion. In fact, the problem of nepotism seems so endemic that Bashir's parents have to have him genetically engineered to give him an equal chance to compete.

 

[Sci]

You raise an interesting point. I think it's safe to say that the writers were attracted to writing about characters with forms of political influence and didn't fully consider the ways in which this might contradict the stated text of meritocracy.

I absolutely reject the assertion that Picard "comes from immense wealth and privilege" though. His vineyard might register as an indication of wealth and privilege by modern standards, but in the context of a Federation that has rejected capitalism and ended poverty, I think Chateau Picard is just an indication he comes from a family that has eccentric hobbies.

 

[James H]

I absolutely reject the assertion that Picard "comes from immense wealth and privilege" though. His vineyard might register as an indication of wealth and privilege by modern standards, but in the context of a Federation that has rejected capitalism and ended poverty, I think Chateau Picard is just an indication he comes from a family that has eccentric hobbies.

You're right, I'm seeing the Chateau from too much of a contemporary perspective, and we know from Generations that it's only been in the family since the early 2200s. I really like your interpretation of it as an eccentric hobby, and it ties into Rene not owning a replicator etc

I suppose one way to see thing is that, in the Trek future, almost everyone is able to achieve their full potential (combined with almost infinite resources and space in the Federation's many colonies) so maybe everyone has a family full of high achievers - apart from the poor Bashirs

 

[Vger23]

I think the writers got very enamored with telling stories about the families of the main characters, and realized it's more interesting if those family members had prominent lives.

I really don't think nepotism was a consideration. There's always been a sense that the choice to join Starfleet is kind of a "family tradition" for many, moreso than having anything to do with nepotism, for example. There are endless exciting and fulfilling career opportunities within the Federation. I think the choice to join Starfleet is probably just one of an endless array of opportunities. It probably takes some family tradition or a particular "type and calling" to lean into the danger and strict requirements Starfleet has.

 

[Sci]

You're right, I'm seeing the Chateau from too much of a contemporary perspective, and we know from Generations that it's only been in the family since the early 2200s. I really like your interpretation of it as an eccentric hobby, and it ties into Rene not owning a replicator etc

I suppose one way to see thing is that, in the Trek future, almost everyone is able to achieve their full potential (combined with almost infinite resources and space in the Federation's many colonies) so maybe everyone has a family full of high achievers - apart from the poor Bashirs

Thanks! I think you make a good point -- in a world where everyone's material needs are met and nobody is struggling just to survive, there will probably be more high-achievers.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I think Chateau Picard is just an indication he comes from a family that has eccentric hobbies.

Or long held traditions.

I don’t know. Certainly as you say, money isn’t part of the equation, yet the Picard family do clearly own a lot of land which is something that could potentially come at some kind of premium.

 

[Oddish]

There are disturbing truths to your statement. Let's look at two character comparisons.

Tom Paris (connected) vs. Harry Kim (not connected): Tom got a commission at LTJG. When he was reduced to Ensign for poor conduct, he was restored to LTJG after 18 months of quality service. Harry put in 6 years of quality service, and was still an ensign.

Deanna Troi (connected) vs. Data (not): Data got one chance to save the Earth from the Borg in "Best of Both Worlds". He succeeded, but remained a LCDR. Deanna took multiple tries to snuff a hologram of Geordi LaForge, and was promoted to Commander.

I'm definitely sensing some inequalities here...

 

[valkyrie013]

You might have looked at Picard, with Rafi at her hovel and she said something to the effect of Picard falling gracefully to a chateau, while she went to a trailer park..

I'm not a fan of making everybody "Special" being part of a lineage, or powerful etc.
Kirk came from a "Military" family, alot of those, and his dad looks like didn't do much while in, wasn't an admiral etc. but was in. Plenty of families that do the family business, so this is no stretch.
Done that with star wars, Last Jedi, Rey was .. nobody, and even shown the broom kid with powers. Next movie, she's back to being force royalty.. blah..

The latest one of Uhura's family being killed, grandma being a starfleet person and influencing her to join. Not a big fan of nearly everybody have some type of Tragedy happen in there lives, a victim of something ( i do hate victim mentality) Why can't her family be alive, but spending time with her grandma was a starfleet officer, wanted to join, maybe against there family's desires, wanting her to go to university. You don't have to kill the family..

But it is small universe syndrome, and is a scripted tv show

 

[Sci]

I don’t know. Certainly as you say, money isn’t part of the equation, yet the Picard family do clearly own a lot of land which is something that could potentially come at some kind of premium.

Maybe. Or maybe not. It's possible that transportation and construction costs are so low that the value of land has drastically decreased.

I think it's also worth considering that we don't actually know the ownership structure of Chateau Picard as a firm. Perhaps the actual business is a worker-owned co-op, where a Picard keeps inheriting co-ownership of the co-op but new co-owners come and go in the form of other workers? Maybe the house is the only thing the actual family owns!

You might have looked at Picard, with Rafi at her hovel and she said something to the effect of Picard falling gracefully to a chateau, while she went to a trailer park..

I mean, Raffi was pretty clearly self-destructing at that point. Her own son didn't want to speak to her. PIC S1 also depicted Daj as an unemployed recent college graduate who was nonetheless living in a very, very nice apartment in a major metropolitan area -- an apartment that in real life today would be completely unaffordable for an unemployed college student. Raffi also still seemed to have enough food, was reasonably healthy, was sheltered from the elements, and had access to the planetary internet. So I think Raffi's situation is not an indication of class differentiation on Earth.

I'm not a fan of making everybody "Special" being part of a lineage, or powerful etc.
Kirk came from a "Military" family, alot of those, and his dad looks like didn't do much while in, wasn't an admiral etc. but was in. Plenty of families that do the family business, so this is no stretch.
Done that with star wars, Last Jedi, Rey was .. nobody, and even shown the broom kid with powers. Next movie, she's back to being force royalty.. blah..

Agreed.

 

[James H]

Or long held traditions.

They make great use of that tension between Picard's family traditions and his personal calling to join Starfleet - much like with Spock and his father - so that nicely ties into Vger23's idea that

the choice to join Starfleet is probably just one of an endless array of opportunities. It probably takes some family tradition or a particular "type and calling" to lean into the danger and strict requirements Starfleet has.

I love the family stories in Trek and the worldbuilding that they add, particularly when we see lives and professions outside of Starfleet

the Picard family do clearly own a lot of land which is something that could potentially come at some kind of premium.

I'm definitely overthinking things, but you've made me wonder what the value of land on Earth would be. As the centre of the Federation, would humans want to hold onto Earth land ownership? Or would most people sell up and move to nicer places like Risa? In TOS and TNG there seems to be a lot of humans who enjoy the thought of leaving Earth to colonise empty new worlds, even if they have to start from scratch to do so

 

[James H]

Not a big fan of nearly everybody have some type of Tragedy happen in there lives ... But it is small universe syndrome, and is a scripted tv show

It's a great dramatic device, but it does get a bit overused doesn't it. Poor Kirk tragically lost his dad and his mentor in one timeline and his sister-in-law and brother in another! Totally agree that not every character needs to be 'destined' to be part of a special family line. It's interesting to see characters defy the expectations of their background too, characters like Picard, Spock, Tasha Yar, etc, etc

 

[Vger23]

But it is small universe syndrome, and is a scripted tv show

It's true. It's "just a tv show..." not a blueprint on how idealized society will run in the future (and I say that in no way to criticize the original poster's question).

 

[Vger23]

It's a great dramatic device, but it does get a bit overused doesn't it. Poor Kirk tragically lost his dad and his mentor in one timeline and his sister-in-law and brother in another! Totally agree that not every character needs to be 'destined' to be part of a special family line. It's interesting to see characters defy the expectations of their background too, characters like Picard, Spock, Tasha Yar, etc, etc

In fairness...Spock's father was a legendary ambassador.

 

[XCV330]

I ask this with a sense of fun, because the real reasons for this decision are obviously to tell tighter stories and create more drama and character development ...
But does anyone find it interesting that in the supposed meritocratic utopia of the Star Trek future, almost every Starfleet officer seems to have or use family connections to their advantage.
Look at the TNG bridge crew: Troi's mother is an ambassador, Worf comes from a ruling family, Riker's father pulls strings in Starfleet, Geordi's mum was a captain and his dad was a commander, Wesley is Beverly Crusher's son, and while Picard may not have Starfleet in his blood he clearly comes from immense wealth and privilege.
Elsewhere: Janeway's dad is a Vice Admiral, Paris's father is a captain
Even Spock and Kirk are son of an ambassador and a captain respectively (presumably in both Prime and Kelvin timelines) along with Burnham of course.
While there are exceptions such as Sisko and O'Brien, maybe this explains why a nobody like Harry Kim never got that promotion. In fact, the problem of nepotism seems so endemic that Bashir's parents have to have him genetically engineered to give him an equal chance to compete.

to add to that: the Sisko is a demigod, he was MADE to be in the position he winds up in.

Qark and Rom's mother is the Grand Nagus (though that didn't help Quark much, surely being the two-degrees from the Grand Nagus didn't hurt Rom eventually getting the job). The Paris family's Starfleet ascendance goes back at least to the TOS era.

Captain Will Decker is Commodore Decker's son.

Can't even begin to get started on the nepotism/unfairness of joined trills. Is it unfair? They can't exactly help being who they are. But it has to be an advantage. No wonder trills want to be joined. In Adira's case, four of Tal's hosts have been Starfleet officers, one of them an Admiral.

Beckett Mariner's familial connections have both frustrated her and probably kept her from being drummed out of Starfleet.

Archer's dad designed the ship he's flew on. Convenient, at least.

Spock is descended from Solkar, the Vulcan ambassador that initiated first contact.

it's almost a shorter list, the characters that we can be certain made it on their own merits. Mostly people sitting at the consoles and lower deckers.

 

[Vger23]

Is it unfair?
.......
it's almost a shorter list, the characters that we can be certain made it on their own merits. Mostly people sitting at the consoles and lower deckers.

I kind of like it. Life isn't fair...even in the much-heralded "perfect utopia" of Roddenberry's 24th century. I think it adds a layer of realism. Sometimes, life is what it is.

 

[James H]

I say that in no way to criticize the original poster's question

Oh I'm absolutely with you on this. Giving the characters these relationships to people in power makes complex worldbuilding and character development so much easier - I certainly can't complain

to add to that: the Sisko is a demigod, he was MADE to be in the position he winds up in.

Qark and Rom's mother is the Grand Nagus (though that didn't help Quark much, surely being the two-degrees from the Grand Nagus didn't hurt Rom eventually getting the job). The Paris family's Starfleet ascendance goes back at least to the TOS era.

Captain Will Decker is Commodore Decker's son.

Can't even begin to get started on the nepotism/unfairness of joined trills. Is it unfair? They can't exactly help being who they are. But it has to be an advantage. No wonder trills want to be joined. In Adira's case, four of Tal's hosts have been Starfleet officers, one of them an Admiral.

Beckett Mariner's familial connections have both frustrated her and probably kept her from being drummed out of Starfleet.

Archer's dad designed the ship he's flew on. Convenient, at least.

Spock is descended from Solkar, the Vulcan ambassador that initiated first contact.

it's almost a shorter list, the characters that we can be certain made it on their own merits. Mostly people sitting at the consoles and lower deckers.

Haha, I didn't even think of Sisko like that - but of course. And your list of characters is brilliant. Great shout about Will Decker - even after his father managed to disgrace himself (albeit before saving everyone). I completely forgot about Mariner too. I suppose she is the show's acknowledgement that this trope is so common

Let's look at two character comparisons.

Tom Paris (connected) vs. Harry Kim (not connected): Tom got a commission at LTJG. When he was reduced to Ensign for poor conduct, he was restored to LTJG after 18 months of quality service. Harry put in 6 years of quality service, and was still an ensign.

Deanna Troi (connected) vs. Data (not): Data got one chance to save the Earth from the Borg in "Best of Both Worlds". He succeeded, but remained a LCDR. Deanna took multiple tries to snuff a hologram of Geordi LaForge, and was promoted to Commander.

I'm definitely sensing some inequalities here...

I love this game. There must be more characters we can play it with

 

[XCV330]

I kind of like it. Life isn't fair...even in the much-heralded "perfect utopia" of Roddenberry's 24th century. I think it adds a layer of realism. Sometimes, life is what it is.

my hypothesis/fan idea/whatever is that in a world as nice to live in as the core UFP worlds, you have to be either a little imbalanced to want to go into Starfleet with all its inherent risks, are doing it for some sort of social currency (putting Barclay on the imbalanced side of that equation, but the guy had one hell of a nice condo in San Francisco. Moneyless society or not, I don't think your average schmuck gets a view like that)...or

..you grow up in a Starfleet family. They're on duty for years at a time, in some cases, or holed up on outposts. Onboard ship romances aren't prohibited, not that they could anyway. A starship becomes a breeding ground for future crew. I would imagine after awhile a significant percentage of the new students walking through SFA doors have generations of ancestors who did the same. Their instructors knew their parents, in some cases.

Except engineers. By the 24th century, they don't even go to Starfleet academy. Again, seems like the command and science pool is drawing from the same genetic pool.

 

[Sci]

my hypothesis/fan idea/whatever is that in a world as nice to live in as the core UFP worlds, you have to be either a little imbalanced to want to go into Starfleet with all its inherent risks, are doing it for some sort of social currency (putting Barclay on the imbalanced side of that equation, but the guy had one hell of a nice condo in San Francisco. Moneyless society or not, I don't think your average schmuck gets a view like that)

Why not? With 24th Century construction and transportation technologies, why wouldn't average schmucks get a view like that? It would be ridiculously cheap to build large-scale construction projects like a skyscraper, and transporters and shuttles mean there's very little opportunity cost to living or building anywhere you want.

 

[James H]

my hypothesis/fan idea/whatever is that in a world as nice to live in as the core UFP worlds, you have to be either a little imbalanced to want to go into Starfleet with all its inherent risks, are doing it for some sort of social currency (putting Barclay on the imbalanced side of that equation, but the guy had one hell of a nice condo in San Francisco. Moneyless society or not, I don't think your average schmuck gets a view like that)...or

..you grow up in a Starfleet family. They're on duty for years at a time, in some cases, or holed up on outposts. Onboard ship romances aren't prohibited, not that they could anyway. A starship becomes a breeding ground for future crew. I would imagine after awhile a significant percentage of the new students walking through SFA doors have generations of ancestors who did the same. Their instructors knew their parents, in some cases.

Except engineers. By the 24th century, they don't even go to Starfleet academy. Again, seems like the command and science pool is drawing from the same genetic pool.

Both those ideas make a lot of sense. I think it is a very realistic phenomenon from that perspective. It's interesting that the kids we actually see grow up with Starfleet parents (Jake, Wesley, Alexander) all take a different course, although all kind of related

 

[XCV330]

Why not? With 24th Century construction and transportation technologies, why wouldn't average schmucks get a view like that? It would be ridiculously cheap to build large-scale construction projects like a skyscraper, and transporters and shuttles mean there's very little opportunity cost to living or building anywhere you want.

Short of compacting people, there are density limits on populations in any space, especially for the good views. If you watch Pathfinder you can see just how good a view he has, how tall his ceilings are, and also that the buildings across what may be San Rafael Canal, or mission creek (no idea, speculating) are not particularly tall. They barely qualify as skyscrapers, and his place is not towering above them.

In any case, there are probably better places for many people to live. A society that can build something as amazing as Yorktown station can provide great views for all residents. But I will maintain, living near Starfleet HQ is prime real estate, especially for people who work near there, like Barclay. Maybe Starfleet provides the housing. If they do, it's nice.