Star Trek: 15 Most Culturally Significant Episodes
5. Past Tense
The sanctuary cities of Past Tense no longer seem to be a thing of fiction, as mass unemployment stretches further and further into the world due to the current situation. Although Star Trek has on many occasions accurately predicted at least elements of the future, this is one that anyone could be forgiven for hoping they get wrong.
Poor people are stripped of their rights and shunted into ghettos together, moved out of the way of the rich and prosperous. It is seen as a kindness, though in truth it is anything but. Sickness and sadness spread as quickly as wildfire, with seemingly no end in sight.
Sisko becomes an accidental figurehead for the uprising that strives to take back their identities. He is forced to impersonate Gabriel Bell, the historical leader, a man who is killed in trying to protect Sisko and Bashir when they find themselves hurled back in time by a transporter accident.
Roddenberry's future was described to exist in a time that had taken mankind through hell to get there. Past Tense is one such example of this. It was one of the darker times for America, with riots tearing down the walls just for voices to be heard. The present day parallel is obvious. Though it was also analogous of the L.A. Riots of '92.