The problem with TNG and Star Trek in generals version of socialism is explained very simply by Bongino. He talks about an economic theory and I know I'm saying this wrong but whatever... when you have scarce goods/services IE food or medical treatment there are only two ways to determine how they are distributed. One is via price(capitalism) the other is via control(I don't know how to word this but its what socialism ends up being).
The point is in Star Trek with matter to energy conversion being mastered there is no scarcity. EVERYTHING is abundant, or rather all basic needs like food, water, medicine, even simple modes of travel are all so easily available, everyone can have it. In a world like that the government would naturally mutate into a pseudo-socialist community. Human labor and human interaction would be the thing that would have the most value. There would be no starving children etc.
That's why socialism works on a small scale. Because in a hippy commune if just a handful of people have money they can buy enough supplies to feed everyone. When you widen it out to larger numbers like Venezuela you inevitably run out of things. They become scarce. So they clamp down and seize control so those in power can control the best food, the most money etc. Meanwhile those not in control starve.
Combined with the fact that it strips everyone of their motivation to work resources become scarcer faster because no one is making anything. Why work hard if you can have everything given to you. And this works until nothing is made so then nothing is given.
Capitalism provide motivation to work hard and you get to keep the product of your hard work.
The problem with TNG and Star Trek in generals version of socialism is explained very simply by Bongino. He talks about an economic theory and I know I'm saying this wrong but whatever... when you have scarce goods/services IE food or medical treatment there are only two ways to determine how they are distributed. One is via price(capitalism) the other is via control(I don't know how to word this but its what socialism ends up being).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarcity
The point is in Star Trek with matter to energy conversion being mastered there is no scarcity. EVERYTHING is abundant, or rather all basic needs like food, water, medicine, even simple modes of travel are all so easily available, everyone can have it. In a world like that the government would naturally mutate into a pseudo-socialist community. Human labor and human interaction would be the thing that would have the most value. There would be no starving children etc.
That's why socialism works on a small scale. Because in a hippy commune if just a handful of people have money they can buy enough supplies to feed everyone. When you widen it out to larger numbers like Venezuela you inevitably run out of things. They become scarce. So they clamp down and seize control so those in power can control the best food, the most money etc. Meanwhile those not in control starve.
Combined with the fact that it strips everyone of their motivation to work resources become scarcer faster because no one is making anything. Why work hard if you can have everything given to you. And this works until nothing is made so then nothing is given.
Capitalism provide motivation to work hard and you get to keep the product of your hard work.