Hi there, I'm not trying to start a political argument or anything, I'm just curious what people here think about this often repeated claim that the Federation is a socialist or even communist utopia? I know Strange New Worlds did say in dialogue it is socialist but I was wondering if people here think that's accurate? I'm not a communist or a marxist or anything like that, but I've had people who identify as such tell me the Federation basically is communist. So anyway, what's your thoughts?
Joseph Sisko's restaurant is his personal property, not his private property since it is not a money-making venture. Since money, and capitalism, do not exist in the Federation, there is no private property in any form. Furthermore, given Star Trek's egalitarian/utopian vision of the future, no one is going to take Joseph Sisko's restaurant -- the laws of the United Earth government (which has direct jurisdiction over Earth) exist (imo) to protect people's personal property, not take it away.