What is your personal head canon?

[SalyutBuran]

All money is a an agreed upon means of exchange. If the Federation near unlimited resources, food, clothing, housing, an agreed upon means of exchange is reasonable.

My point is you don't need a unified means of exchange. The reason we do in real life is because governments want to tax people, and set interests, trade goods etc.

The problem with a unified means of exchange is that we don't want people exchanging certain items for other items.

Imagine if we are both given a limit of how many gasoline credits we can have a year. The government knows not everyone will reach their limit. So they count on it. They don't want people selling off their excess gasoline credits to someone else. It defeats the point of having those sorts of resource limits.

The city of rome isn't free, you can't own the whole thing, you can't own 5,000 acres of land in England, you can't get a galaxy class circle the Eifel tower for hours at a time.

Things are still controlled, and when you're trying to control what people do with things to maintain balance it seems reasonable that you want to avoid a kind of currency that could be used to subvert that system.

 

[Oddish]

Better to just say the Federation uses money, but poverty has been eliminated. Easy enough to do when technology ensures that food, shelter, medicine, and transportation are available to all.

 

[fireproof78]

The problem with a unified means of exchange is that we don't want people exchanging certain items for other items.

Too bad I barter all the time...

Things are still controlled, and when you're trying to control what people do with things to maintain balance it seems reasonable that you want to avoid a kind of currency that could be used to subvert that system.

They have to be if there is to be enough for all.

Keys of power applies to resources too. Governments controlling those resources and means of exchange means that, hypothetically, all can get what they need.

But, that opens up the question of what is a need.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Section 31 was amoral and ruthless, but there were limits on how far they could dmgo.

Not very many.

As far as we know, Section 31 had no oversight. They reported to no one. They followed orders from no one. They were accountable to no one. I wasn't kidding when I said they literally do whatever they want. I think we can all agree that's very dangerous, isn't it?

As you said, though, there were limits on their abilities. They may have depended on Starfleet Intelligence to a certain degree, but they weren't responsible to them.

The only slack I'm willing to grant Section 31 is that they aren't internal security. They could give sweet diddly squat about what the regular Federation citizen believes or does. They only act towards external threats, they don't exist to punish traitors or enforce the will of the state. That's the Obsidian Order and the Tal Shiar. Compared to them, Section 31 are amateurs.

That being said, I am very curious to learn what happened to drive Section 31 "underground", as in DSC they actually DO report to Starfleet and Federation authorities. Fallout from Control, maybe? Could have been one hell of a public scandal that Ash Tyler now has to deal with...

Better to just say the Federation uses money

Indeed. It has the advantage of being true. Otherwise, what are Federation credits?

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Indeed. It has the advantage of being true. Otherwise, what are Federation credits?

Federation CREDITs in my Head Canon is the Digital Currency while there is a Latinum based Physical Currency aspect for day to day use as well. The Latinum is really there to help prevent replicator counterfitting along with Serial ID tracking of each Physical Currency unit.

Both are Highly regulated and the supply can't be willy nilly increased by government or banks.
The currency supply is directly tied into how much goods & services the UFP economy can produce and it's direct total amount is directly proportional to the rate that the economy can output Goods/Service and automatically tracked via computers and highly regulated.

Everything about the economy is "HIGHLY Regulated" as to what can be charged to prevent Inflation, Grift, Theft, Ripping People off with severe penalties for doing so.

The UFP economy is incredibly stable despite having other species join the UFP because it's accurately tracked and controlled with Zero Inflation or Deflation for the past 2+ centuries with a stable value on currency and the buying power it holds. The goal of the Economic Department is to make sure that there is Zero Inflation or Deflation and to force the buying power of the UFP Credit / Currency to be the same through-out time.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Federation CREDITs in my Head Canon is the Digital Currency while there is a Latinum based Physical Currency aspect for day to day use as well

I'm down with that.

also I believe Quark doesn't accept Federation credits in his bar so that's another reason why latinum is in such wide use.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I'm down with that.

also I believe Quark doesn't accept Federation credits in his bar so that's another reason why latinum is in such wide use.

Eventually, the Ferengi's joined the UFP by the my 26th century, ergo the desire for a physical currency to come back.

Latinum became the obvious method due to difficulty in not being able to replicate it, but you can easily mass manufacture it into physical coins of different denominations.

But only small regulated amounts are used to represent value in currency with the majority of larger denominations sitting in Government regulated Banks.

Remember, the UFP economy by law & regulation, has to prevent the value of the currency from Inflating or Deflating, ergo a "Net Zero" change in the value of the UFP CREDIT (CREDIT = Digital Version of UFP Currency) / LUCRE (LUCRE = Physical Version of UFP Currency)

 

[Jedi Marso]

McCoy in TSFS: "Price you name, money I got!"

Kirk in TVH, after Gillian says she bets you don't use money in the 23rd Century: "We don't!"

 

[fireproof78]

McCoy in TSFS: "Price you name, money I got!"

Kirk in TVH, after Gillian says she bets you don't use money in the 23rd Century: "We don't!"

Canon violation.

I think we can all agree that's very dangerous, isn't it?

I mean, yes and no. On the one hand, of course such powers need limits but the other side is what Star Trek has presented 24th century humanity. The "Neutral Zone" highlights this quite well:
PICARD: Aboard a starship, that is not necessary. We are all capable of exercising self-discipline. Now, you will refrain from using them.

This is Picard telling a 20th century human that current people who serve on starships are capable of practicing self-control. So, the other side of this of them being able to do what they want reflects the idea that humanity is evolved, and doesn't surprise me that such ideas persists even in less than savory organizations.

 

[Shawnster]

My head canon?

For the most part, Franz Joseph's works, including ship designs, are canon. Except the bridge being offset because that's just stupid, I my opinion.

A lot of FASA's ships are canon. Except for the ones I think are ugly.

All of Forbin's kitbashes are canon. You rock, dude.

Warp fields are a bubble created around a starship. These bubbles have layers, or shells. A warp factor number is the number of layers or shells the warp field generates around the ship. The layers created by TNG era ships are more efficient than TOS era warp fields.

TOS Starfleet ships did not have warp cores. Power was generated straight by the nacelles. This was inefficient and replaced by the warp core system in the TMP era.

 

[Tenacity]

Eventually, the Ferengi's joined the UFP

And completely take over the Federation council ... right?

by the my 26th century

Oh uh, earlier than that, maybe later 24th?

ergo the desire for a physical currency to come back.

That's how they take over the Federation council, by straight forward bribing everyone on the Federation council ... right?

Vulcans: "live long and profit, and profit, and profit some more."[/QUOTE]

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

And completely take over the Federation council ... right?

That's technically impossible to do, the Federation Council consists of multiple representatives, so they couldn't put more Ferengi's in, even if they wanted to.

The Legislative side is Tri-Cameral, ergo 3x Branches.

The Executive side is now run by a Executive Council, and there are strict term limits on everybody who enters into the UFP Executive Council.

Oh uh, earlier than that, maybe later 24th?

My Head Canon starts at the beginning of the 26th century, so they're already apart of the UFP by then. They joined in the middle of the 25th century.

That's how they take over the Federation council, by straight forward bribing everyone on the Federation council ... right?

Vulcans: "live long and profit, and profit, and profit some more."

It's not like the Federation Ideal's aren't still there, there are ALOT of regulated limits on how much you can charge, how much you can collect in salary, etc.
It's not that simple to just willy nilly charge whatever you want or collect as much profit as you want.

There's severe rules & regulations to doing basic business.

That's also why everything is severely regulated so that you can't have the Snow-Ball effect.

 

[Sci]

Can't "no oversight, literally doing WHATEVER THEY WANT" be applied to a lot of contexts which usually describes characters and groups that people see as a positive source for good beyond their own interests?

For example, that same statement basically applies to Captain America, Iron Man, and the Avengers and the audience is not led to believe they're doing what they're doing solely for their own interests. Batman and Superman have no oversight.

Batman, Superman, and the Avengers are children's characters, not a good or realistic model to use for determining real-life policy.

Yes, because as we know no one operates in the interest of others without oversight.

Yes, actually. No institution can be trusted to act in the interests of anyone other than itself if it is not accountable to others.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, actually. No institution can be trusted to act in the interests of anyone other than itself if it is not accountable to others.

Star Trek would have us believe otherwise. Humanity exhibits higher self control in the name of evolution.

 

[Oddish]

Oh uh, earlier than that, maybe later 24th?

That's how they take over the Federation council, by straight forward bribing everyone

My Head Canon starts at the beginning of the 26th century, so they're already apart of the UFP by then. They joined in the middle of the 25th century.

24th century is doubtful. But 25th is definitely possible. Consider...

2369: The Grand Nagus is an autocrat.
Welfare is nonexistent.
Exploitation of employees is expected.
Profit is the ultimate goal.
Women have almost no rights.

2376: The Grand Nagus shares power.
Welfare exists.
Employees have rights.
Women and men are essentially equal.

That's centuries of social progress in seven years*. Who knows where they'll be in another thirty?


*Ludicrous at first glance, but we're operating in a universe where going fast can turn you into a salamander, a ghosts is just an anaplastic lifeform that wants to do the wild mambo with you, and broadcasting music into a space anomaly makes you start singing at random.

 

[somebuddyX]

My personal head cannon would be like my face would slide apart and then there's a death laser like off the Martian tripods in "War of the Worlds"

 

[Henoch]

Batman, Superman, and the Avengers are children's characters, not a good or realistic model to use for determining real-life policy.

Even worse, they're teen's characters. <I was a teen when I seriously got into comic books.> Yikes.

 

[Oddish]

My personal head cannon would be like my face would slide apart and then there's a death laser like off the Martian tripods in "War of the Worlds."

I thought about making a similar joke, but with cannons instead of lasers...

Batman, Superman, and the Avengers are children's characters, not a good or realistic model to use for determining real-life policy.

Or costumes. If a crime fighter actually dressed like Robin, it would be impossible to take him seriously. I mean, he's wearing frickin' bikini briefs for crying out loud.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

My personal head cannon would be like my face would slide apart and then there's a death laser like off the Martian tripods in "War of the Worlds"

This is the same universe where Tom Paris could mysteriously evolve into a large Salamander like being due to going Warp ∞.

Spoiler: ST:PIC S1 Spoilers

Admiral JLP can get his mind swapped into a Golem Body

So anything can happen =D

I thought about making a similar joke, but with cannons instead of lasers...
Or costumes. If a crime fighter actually dressed like Robin, it would be impossible to take him seriously. I mean, he's wearing frickin' bikini briefs for crying out loud.

Bikini Briefs don't make good Super Hero suits, that's why the original X-Men movie established all Leather as the coolest looking outfits​

 

[Oddish]

Bikini Briefs don't make good Super Hero suits, that's why the original X-Men movie established all Leather as the coolest looking outfits

The X-Men movie established the impracticality of yellow spandex. Bikini briefs were too ludicrous to even mention.

Seriously, though... bare legs in general are a bad idea when you're likely to get in a dust-up. One good throw on the ground, and you're out of service for a couple weeks while your legs heal up.