What are some dystopian elements in Star Trek?

[HansentheSwede]

I have this theory that we're always in some sort of dystopian future since (a) humans aren't perfect and neither are the things we construct, and (b) since we're conditioned to fit in a culture, we wouldn't really know if something is wrong or horribly oppressive if we're used to it. Now I stand by Star Trek being perhaps the brightest prediction of the human race (and really starting to doubt we'll ever accomplish what Roddenberry imagined), but even in this near-perfect society, there's got to be some dystopian aspects right?

How much private rights would Federation citizens actually have? How many times has Starfleet crossed the line? Since the holodeck are widely used, how out of touch with reality are people?

Even with human progress there are always imperfect elements and injustice. Where do you think that would occur in the Star Trek universe and the federation (other than every single Starfleet Admiral plot... seriously, why is every starfleet admiral either under the control of an alien or going rouge?)

 

[Portal]

Dystopian elements in Star Trek reminds me of the Bajorans under Cardassian occupation.

 

[Shawnster]

"The revolution is successful. But survival depends on drastic measures. Your continued existence represents a threat to the well-being of society. Your lives mean slow death to the more valued members of the colony. Therefore, I have no alternative but to sentence you to death. Your execution is so ordered, signed Kodos, Governor of Tarsus IV." – excerpt from Kodos' speech to the 4,000 people he murdered

 

[SchwEnt]

Star Trek history tells us Earth will have to go thru the Eugenics Wars and/or World War III with millions dead and whole populations bombed out of existance and Colonel Green's War and the post-atomic horror and other shit before we get to the enlightened promised land of the 23rd century and beyond.

 

[Shawnster]

Despite all that enlightenment, there will still be rogue Captains, Admirals and Court officials like Norah Satie

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Probably the most 'dystopian' element of the mainstream Federation is that there's social stigma attached to moral dissent. You won't be thrown in prison for dissenting ideas, but you will probably be judged for it by all your neighbors and pressured into changing, and you'll probably be barred from good careers.

I imagine saying that something should be privatized would be like saying Communism was awesome in the American 1960s.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Despite all that enlightenment, there will still be rogue Captains, Admirals and Court officials like Norah Satie

And these are countered by awesome Admirals like Maxwell Forrest.

 

[T'Girl]

How much private rights would Federation citizens actually have?

[This Again] There are no fukking Gays !!!! [/This Again]

Even with human progress there are always imperfect elements and injustice. Where do you think that would occur in the Star Trek universe and the federation

The Federation President can independently declare a state of emergency over the entirely of Earth, without going through (apparently) either the Earth's home government or the Federation Council. While a decision had to be made, there no indication that it had to be made within a few seconds.

He simply gave a order to place armed uniformed personal in the streets. That's a lot of power in the hands of one person.

Rule by autonomous decree, very scary.

 

[Shawnster]

The Federation government enacted a policy of forcibly removing Federation citizens from their homes, then gave these homes to the Cardassians. The Federation citizens had no say, no voice in this matter.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

There is an awful lot about Roddenberry's "evolved humanity" that doesn't bear close scrutiny. For instance, we're shown a near-utopian society apparently made possible by near-universal agreement within the populace of what constitutes "correct" behavior and morality, even though that "correctness" often flies in the face of what we would consider basic human nature today. We are told this is possible because we have "evolved," but, frankly, it makes me really suspicious of that boast we hear from time to time about how Trek-era "medical science" has "cured all mental illness."

 

[Timo]

The Federation allows its citizens to settle just about anywhere without imposing any sort of health or safety checks. It promotes privately conducted settlement, typically by extremist groups, and keeps little or no track of these endeavors even though apparently obligated (or at least entitled) to provide aid in a crisis.

There is no legislative body in evidence, nor a police force that would operate under reduced powers as compared to those of the UFP military. Criminals face no punishment, either for purposes of deterrence or for purposes of satisfying the victims' thirst for vengeance.

The means exist to keep people alive for centuries, but nobody takes the doctors up on the offer, apparently due to indoctrination promoting pseudo-20th century lifestyles. Hard work doesn't manifest as a luxury lifestyle. And victorious wars aren't concluded in unconditional surrender of the loser and profitable redistribution of the spoils.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[T'Girl]

Unless a non-Federation civilization is strong enough to stop it, the Federation's uniformed armed forces simply enters any star system they choose too. Even when a civilization directly instructs a starship to stay away, all it take is the instruction of a Federation official to send the starship in.

*****

Starfleet officers can computer access personel information on anyone , any time they wish. No permission, no court orders or warrents. The people are not "secure in their papers."

The Federation observes no privacy rights.

 

[Pavonis]

Starfleet officers can computer access personel information on anyone, any time they wish. No permission, no court orders or warrants. The people are not "secure in their papers."

The Federation observes no privacy rights.

Which may merely mean that everyone in the Federation, or even the Alpha Quadrant, has a Wikipedia-like entry in the Federation's equivalent of the Web. Every time a character looks someone up, or is looked up themselves, their publicly (self?) published biography is referenced. Just a thought.

 

[Lt. Cheka Wey]

The Holorevolution on Voyager is really scary.

 

[Silvercrest]

There is an awful lot of Roddenberry's "evolved humanity" that doesn't bear close scrutiny. For instance, we're shown a near-utopian society apparently made possible by near universal agreement within the populace of what constitutes "correct" behavior and morality, even though that "correctness" often flies in the face of what we would consider basic human nature today. We are told this is possible because we have "evolved," but, frankly, it makes me really suspicious of that boast we hear from time to time about how Trek-era "medical science" has "cured all mental illness."

And no one ever wants to leave. Yeah, this sounds spooky.

 

[sonak]

The Federation government enacted a policy of forcibly removing Federation citizens from their homes, then gave these homes to the Cardassians. The Federation citizens had no say, no voice in this matter.

except that's not what happened. The recognized and democratic government representing those citizens came to a legal and democratic decision about those colonies.

Are you saying that a small minority should be able to overrule a majority in a democracy whenever that minority feels sufficiently wronged?

 

[TheRoyalFamily]

You know all those crazy colonies the various captains come across? That's only the tippiest tip of the iceberg. The Federation doesn't care about what happens, at all, in any of its colonies that aren't an independent Federation member. You want to be a Nazi planet? Go ahead.

 

[horatio83]

I don't think that Trek was ever dystopian. But it showed more often than not that "paradise" is fragile and in constant danger. Many people have to work hard just to maintain it and even the best can become racist (TUC) or hungry for revenge (FC).

 

[Shawnster]

The Federation government enacted a policy of forcibly removing Federation citizens from their homes, then gave these homes to the Cardassians. The Federation citizens had no say, no voice in this matter.

except that's not what happened. The recognized and democratic government representing those citizens came to a legal and democratic decision about those colonies.

Are you saying that a small minority should be able to overrule a majority in a democracy whenever that minority feels sufficiently wronged?

I have no dog in this fight. I'm happily content to live on Earth, Sector 001.

But, for arguments sake, we're not talking about evicting a few residents in town in order to put in an Interstate. This isn't imminent domain. This "duly elected government" reached an agreement that evicted every colonist on multiple worlds. We even had an episode that equated this act with the forced removal of the Native Americans back in the 1800s.

The funny thing about tyrants and despots is that they don't necessarily view themselves as tyrants and despots. It's those people on the outside or those people abused under their regime that give those labels out. I'm sure some Germans and Russians were quite content with their respective "duly elected" tyrannical and despotic governments.

Wait, what? They came to a legal and democratic decision about these colonies? They voted on whether to remove Federation citizens from the disputed territories? Who voted? Did those citizens in those disputed territories have a say in the matter? Would this be something like Congress deciding to remove all the citizens of New Mexico and returning that state to the previous owners? "Sorry all you New Mexicans, we really don't care what you think. Granted, it's your state and your home but, hey, the rest of the country voted and you're out of luck. Don't forget to turn out the lights on your way out."

 

[R. Star]

Despite all that enlightenment, there will still be rogue Captains, Admirals and Court officials like Norah Satie

And these are countered by awesome Admirals like Maxwell Forrest.

Forrest never did much for me, but he is one of the minority of Starfleet flag officers that isn't corrupt, stupid, a jerk or some combination thereof. My favorite thing about him was that, Archer and Enterprise had a single commanding officer they reported to instead of like later Treks when any Admiral with a whim starts firing off orders. Nice bit of continuity and realism.

Let's see if I can recall a few.

Admiral Alynna Necheyev... not so corrupt but definitely queen itchy with a b! Though she advocates genocide of the Borg and ordered Picard to force relocate the Indian colonists.

Admiral Kennelly... let the Cardassians destroy a Federation colony and trick him into getting the Federation to flush out the Bajorans.

Admiral Cartwright... conspired to assassinate the Klingon Chancellor and Federation president because peace sucks.

Admiral Leyton... conspired to install a military dictatorship in the name of security

Admiral Mathew Dougherty... forced relocation of the Baku

Admiral Mark Jameson... sold weapons to militants and engages in a coverup.

Admiral Norah Satie... protects freedom by inventing conspiracies and arresting assumed traitors.

Admiral Kathryn Janeway... yes, I'm going there... manipulates the entire timeline for her own personal benefit.

Admiral William Ross... works with Section 31 and sets up Senator Creetak for execution/life in prison to install a mole within an allied government

Admiral Eric Pressman... researches forbidden technology, which causes a mutiny and the death of his crew. Covers it up and tries starting the experiments years later.

Hmm.... did I miss anyone? One wonders why Kirk got demoted just for stealing the Enterprise for an unauthorized humanitarian mission with such esteemed company.