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DS9: Currency and the Federation (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 2 years ago by OneCardboardBox@lemmy.sdf.org to c/daystrominstitute@startrek.website

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In TNG, Picard says that the Federation has evolved past a need for money. Indeed, we never see any.

In DS9 though, Quark talks a lot about bar tabs and costs. Surely O'Brien and Bashir don't get free drinks, so how do they pay? I'd assume that any Ferengi worth his lobes won't accept anything that can be replicated, so do Federation officers get a stipend of tradeable "value" when interacting with cultures that still expect payment?

I think there's also a reference to Quark paying rent to Sisko for running the bar. Presumably that's denominated in latinum. I wonder where it goes? Maybe the secret "Garak black ops" fund.

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[–] TheAgeOfSuperboredom@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think the officers do get some form of stipend. I can't recall if this was mentioned directly in the show though.

Do we know if any Federation members use money?

[–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 1 points 2 years ago

To my knowledge the federation is completely post monetary. But, we do see individual people who in it that use money. Riker mentioned a few times owing debts or being owed debts from card games and the like, iirc. I think it's largely a personal choice, as money is unnecessary in their society. Nothing that matters has a monetary cost, like shelter, food, etc. And luxuries within the federation itself seem to also be free at the point of use, but I think there is some kind of credit system in use. Sisko mentions using up a months worth of transporter credits to come home for dinner during his time at the academy, if I'm remembering right.

Given the whole schtick of being a post capitalist, but not quite fully communist, society that the franchise has, combined with my personal knowledge of various socialist ideas around transitionary societies, my best guess is that they function off a form of labor voucher. Non transferable credits to be used for whatever goods are restricted or scarce. But with some kind of loophole around the transferability when it comes to dealing with non federation members who still use money.

[–] Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I always assumed the rent went to the Bajorans. After all, it’s their station, Sisko just runs it for them.

As for the bar tabs, I don’t think they ever really explained how starfleet officers paid for stuff on DS9. I always just assumed they had some kind of credit account through Starfleet or something when they were posted there.