From: hcheng@Auspex.COM (Howard Cheng)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Money in the ST universe
Date: 22 Aug 92 01:15:22 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara

In article <1992Aug21.033500.12390@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> ira2p@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Iain Robert Asplin) writes:
>
>As for the paycheck thing, none of the crew get paychecks of any sort 
>since money is not used in everyday life in the Federation.  Replicators
>put paid to any material needs.
>The only time we have heard the crew talk of money for their own personal
>use is in "Encounter at Farpoint" I believe when Dr. Crusher is buying a
>bolt of fabric from the mall on Farpoint Station.  
>I would think Starfleet crew members get some money to use whenever they
>visit planets where money would be useful or needed.
>Further proof of the lack of currency trading in the Federation is
>Picard's forgettint to bring money onto the holodeckj when  he plays
>Dixon Hill in "Manhunt" and comments on how he keeps forgetting the need
>to carry money.
>The only other references to money are from the Ferengi, and we can see
>that the monetary obsession of the Ferengi is another reason why the
>crew don't really care for them too much.

Well, here's my speculation about money, if anyone really wants to listen...

Consider that today, many ATM card readers are available at supermarkets, gas
stations, and even fast food places (i.e., Carl's Jr.). I think is how
the future of monetary transactions will go--completely electronically, almost
(but not completely) eliminating the need for cash.

So everyone gets paid a salary, depending on their rank, and this money is
directly deposited into a bank account. Monetary transactions are automatically
deducted from their accounts whenever they occur. As for the replicators, we
can assume the crew have some sort of "meal plan" and whenever they order
meals that are -not- included in this plan, that costs money. We don't see them
entering codes, true, when they use the replicator, but the computer already
knows who they are--it already identifies crew members by voice -and- it
knows exactly where they are all the time. Alcohol and other snacks consumed
in Ten-Forward are -not- free. For when guests are onboard and eating and
drinking, perhaps there is some sort of "guest" account, or perhaps that
money is charged to that guests' planetary Federation account (if they eat
or drink excessively).

It says in the ST:TNG Tech Manual that on one of the medical scanners, there's
a read-out that says "Medical Insurance Remaining." This is supposed to be a
joke, but what if it isn't? What if the Federation has a good health care plan
(unlike certain other 20th century countries), such that regular checkups are
covered by medical insurance. I would also assume that injuries sustained in
the line of duty are covered by this insurance as well.

What about other uses of money? Well, there's the poker gang, right? Are they
going to play without money? Unlikely. And maybe there's a holodeck allotment
and if crew members go over that allotment, that time is charged to their
account.

Well, that's speculation anyway. Feel free to reveal holes in the theory or
provide criticism or lavish praise upon it. (:

Howard