6. Social Development In The Federation Or Who Cleans The Toilets?
You know, ever since the TOS episode, The Cloud-Minders, Ive always been curious about more information on Gene Roddenberrys vision of the egalitarianism of the Federation. Even in Star Trek: TNG we see Picard getting his hair cut (well, trimmed) by a barber who he is irritated by, and in the re-booted Star Trek, Kirk still has to pay for drinks using currency and Star Fleet Security (aka Shore Patrol) still needs to enforce the law, stop bar fights and take people into custody. So, is money still a major pursuit of human civilization in the re-booted universe or has this also been thrown out by J.J. Abrams? The question needs to be asked: just how has humanity advanced socially in the 23rd century? If the bar fight scene is any indication that humans havent advanced as much as Rodenberry would have liked for his creation, then Abrams and Payne need to demonstrate some minimal degree that humanity is not just a futuristic version of the morality that we have in the present. I, for one, would like to believe that we are capable of some type of moral growth in the future that allows us the wisdom to use space flight in some sort of noble endeavour. If the re-boot cant replace what Roddenberry provided in the first place, then itll be hard to believe that the Federation is any better than the political structures we have in place today. Thats a major dilemma in terms of the very nature of Star Trek that binds fans together. Star Trek represents a Utopian future that people can believe in and can aspire to. If this element is missing from the re-booted franchise then it diminishes the value of Roddenberrys work, and thats something that will have to be addressed in the third film.