Is Star Trek only for Lefties?

[Aucald]

The interesting thing about Star Trek to me is the idea that our real-world political ideologies don't even apply in that universe. Our politics are built on the different ideas of how we distribute resources (what we typically call wealth) - but Star Trek is a society with cornucopia technology. They don't have wealth disparity, because they have fundamentally unlimited wealth. It's a completely post-scarcity economy where our economical models make no sense, and neither do our political structures.

From a writing standpoint I'd call it left-leaning since it often deals with the contextual issues of social inclusion and in/out groups, but a lot of that is entirely subtextual to the stories being told. You can largely ignore the implicit politics of Star Trek and still have a good time watching it, if you're inclined. It's also worth saying that no one is really a political island in and of themselves, no matter how much they try to be. We all have both the fundamental thinking of the political right and left ingrained in our thinking, to some degree or another, and where we may disagree with one on the macro level we will often resonate with it on the micro.

[Felya]

No it's not, it's literally what Soviet Russia was... If you think authoritarianism can't exist on the left you don't have a very good grasp of history.

No, because the collective was represented by the singular leader. Remember, Hitler called him self socialist too.

[Kithelle]

It used to be for everyone but once idiots like Kurtzman took over it's for it's mostly for the brain dead idiots that do what they're told to do like a Borg Drone

It's for the idiots who believe what they're told even though it's a complete lie...it's fake woke nonsense...Picard in particular brings heavy racism and sexism...something the thinking left would hate.

It has no morals, no lessons, no substance now...it's all fake woke trash that preaches the idea that if you aren't with us 110% then you're the enemy...on top of that it preaches shoot first...shoot again...shoot some more and after that who really has time for a question?

[Schattenlied]

No, because the collective was represented by the singular leader.

And the Soviet Union wasn't represented by it's head, who held supreme power? The "collective" (people) didn't have any say in the USSR, if you questioned the government you either got disappeared, or just publicly executed.

Authoritarianism can and does exist on the left.

[Felya]

The Queen is Stalin and there's a demand for conformity.

What’s liberal in that, other than defining Stalin as liberal and then pointing? That’s not how politics works... the above is right wing authoritarianism.

See, I can do that too.

Yah, but you would only be proving my point. You know that Stalin did this thing called breathing... uh oh...

[Hammerfest]

Yes, because you ignore the facade of authoritarianism.

Show me a communist/socialist country that isn't authoritarian.

[Nefarious Tea]

Except it's not a political discussion, it's a fucking TV show.

Uhh, no.

The point of this thread was political discussion concerning a TV show.

[JohnBrown1917]

yeah no... one i don't put real-world politics into Sci-Fi shows (often). Star Trek (esp tng) tried to be a near utopian society in the core worlds that's all..... if you want to follow politics with it watch up to and including Picard and you will see that system broke down and is failing/failed.

A lot of shows and movies are influenced by the politics of the writers, as it turns out Star trek is one of the biggest examples of that.

[Nefarious Tea]

*snip*

What are you on about?

[Felya]

And the Soviet Union wasn't represented by it's head, who held supreme power? The "collective" (people) didn't have any say in the USSR, if you questioned the government you either got disappeared, or just publicly executed.

None of this is true... public executions? Absurd... this is a leftist in USSR:

[Schattenlied]

That’s not how politics works... the above is right wing authoritarianism.

Now there's an oxymoron, right wing communism.

That's not how politics works.

[Nefarious Tea]

Star Trek can appeal to the military minded folk (who regularly lean to the right).

It is definitely leftist in the political sense of things. Which is as it should be. It is the correct ideal, democratic communism.

I think modern politics has proven that democracy is a sham. Always has been. The only valid system of government is Plato's Republic: a wise ruler with absolute power to do what is best for the most people.

Besides, the utopian Federation of Star Trek is far closer to fantasy than science fiction anyway.

[Felya]

Show me a communist/socialist country that isn't authoritarian.

Costa Rica... just off the top of my my head. Show me a single fascist/capitalist society.

[Hammerfest]

Costa Rica... just off the top of my my head.

So there's no authority in Costa Rica?

[Felya]

Now there's an oxymoron, right wing communism.

That's not how politics works.

What do you think call it auth left mean? You are confusing authoritarianism with, left wing ideology. The two are incongruent. The extreme of left wing, is not having leadership. The extreme of right wing, is having singular leadership. The confusion you are exposing is the progression of a lot of leadership, to no leadership, has a tendency to get stuck at 1. Which just happens to be the end point of extreme right. That’s why it’s confusing, Stalin isn’t the end point of communism, which is why communism failed. It pretty much turned into fascism.

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So there's no authority in Costa Rica?

I’m sorry, did you just confuse authoritarianism and authority? Costa Rica has no standing army, with all spending going to social programs, like schools and healthcare. Plus... a monkey might peel on your head.

Edit: You guys do know that Stalin rivals only Hitler in extermination of Jews and Gypsies? That doesn’t seem very liberal...

[Donald Hellscream]

I don't know, I hardly ever notice political messages anyway in shows and movies, unless its really in your face overt.

[TrollHunter3000]

If you'd watched both videos, which is impossible since there hasn't been enough time since this thing was posted, you'd know better.

I'd know better than what? That it's a TV show?

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Uhh, no.

The point of this thread was political discussion concerning a TV show.

Still a TV show.

[Schattenlied]

What do you think call it auth left mean? You are confusing authoritarianism with, left wing ideology. The two are incongruent. The extreme of left wing, is not having leadership. The extreme of right wing, is having singular leadership. The confusion you are exposing is the progression of a lot of leadership, to no leadership, has a tendency to get stuck at 1. Which just happens to be the end point of extreme right. That’s why it’s confusing, Stalin isn’t the end point of communism, which is why communism failed. It pretty much turned into fascism.

That's not how this works, that's not how any of this works...

Authoritarianism and Libertarianism are not inherently Left or Right wing ideologies, on the political compass they would be North and South while left and right are East and West. Both exist on both sides because neither one has anything to do with either side.

[Felya]

I'd know better than what? That it's a TV show?

Still a TV show.

Just tell them it’s an allegory... I don’t know why you are getting so much shit.

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That's not how this works, that's not how any of this works...

What’s “this”?

Authoritarianism and Libertarianism are not inherently Left or Right wing ideologies, on the political compass they would be North and South while left and right are East and West. Both exist on both sides because neither one has anything to do with either side.

Yes, they are opposites. If liberal means authoritarian, it has no meaning. There is no progress in authoritarianism. You might as well argue feudalism was liberal, because the serfs all contributed to king’s collective. Absurd...

[Hammerfest]

I’m sorry, did you just confuse authoritarianism and authority?

Possibly. I mean, I don't know. The Borg always seemed to be the ultimate state of Leftism/communism/socialism to me given that everybody exists to serve the body politic instead of the other way around. But like I said in OP, I really don't know.

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Yes, because you ignore the facade of authoritarianism.

Honestly, though, Felya... what did you think of the videos?