Trek Society

[Toban Kal]

OK, so i have a question about how the future works?
People don't use money and replicators can provide everything they could ever ask for. So there's no actual reason for people to go out and work.
I get the reason that they do things to better themselves. but people don't actually need to work. If a person is a waiter or a chef or something it's because they choose to do and perhaps even enjoy it.

But could there actually be sitting at home and doing nothing all day, because that's what they choose to do?
Or would they be asked to do something, anything, to contribute to society in some way?

Personally I'd love to give up work if I could; just stay at home all day and concentrate on my writing and trying to get published.

 

[DevilEyes]

OK, so i have a question about how the future works?
People don't use money and replicators can provide everything they could ever ask for. So there's no actual reason for people to go out and work.

First off, the premise #1 (people don't use money) is highly questionable, and premise #2 (replicators can provide everything they could ask for) is, IMO, very obviously not true, if you just think about it for a moment. I could name a bunch of things replicators could never provide, even theoretically (land, places to live in, travel, services, works of culture and entertainment such as live concerts, theatrical performances, live sports games...) not to mention that it's been established that there are some items that replicators can't replicate. Even with the things that are replicated, I am not buying for a moment that replicated things would be just as valued and sought after as 'the real stuff'. And it's also been established that people still own vineyards and restaurants, work as chefs, or as tailors.

About premise #1, see previous threads Money in the Federation and Starfleet at Quark's as well as this analysis from another website: The Economy of the Federation.

 

[maneth]

Yeah, sure people could sit at home and do nothing all day, since the mere struggle for survival is no longer an issue. That said, I expect few people would waste their lives doing nothing.

Of course, with money no longer being used, anyone could get published on the nets. Intellectual property rights would no longer matter beyond naming whoever it was that created the piece, since the creator wouldn't get paid for the work.

ETA: That said, even with unlimited energy, I seriously doubt the sort of economy Roddenberry dreamed about will ever become a reality.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

If replicators could provide for every need, there would be no reason to care whether or not people work. Some will work, some will contribute creatively, and some will sit on their asses and do nothing. If there is no serious cost to providing for them, then no one will care whether or not they do things themselves. Clearly important jobs still attract people, so that's all that matters.

BTW, I'm not entirely convinced Star Trek portrays a currency-less society or that replicators provide for everything, but I do agree that the possibility of starvation has been eliminated and people only need to work either for fulfillment or, perhaps, a higher standard of luxury.

 

[T'Girl]

Replicator can't produce decent wine or the Picard family wouldn't be growing acres of grapes, which could lead us to believe it also can't produce decent tasting food either. So people (or machines) are still harvesting food, raising animals, collecting fish.

There's a scene of Ben Sisko cleaning shell fish with a scrub brush in the alley behind his father's resturant, now why would anyone replicate dirty shell fish that then had to be cleaned? And if they are eating shell fish that put a lie to they don't eat meat, now doesn't it?

I can buy that they no longer use physical money, it is all computer credits. Except for vending machines I rarely use money anymore myself. I think that is what Kirk meant when he told Gillian "we don't use money."

 

[The Wormhole]

Theoretically speaking, yes a Federation citizen could simply stay at home doing nothing their whole life and get by comfortably. With no bills or taxes to pay, there really is no pressing need motivating them to go out and get work.

Although, it is possible that there is a social stigma attached to such behaviour, and anyone who simply sloths at home for a living would be a pariah in society. This would account for why everyone still heads out and gets a job.