Star Trek Fan, I have a question?

Glad you asked this..

I read somewhere that Star Trek uses an economy based on the "participatory economy" principles... but in ST there is no money.

I am not sure if it would work, mainly because a lot of things in Star Trek do not require the normal process they do today, they have replicators that can just make food or clothes instantly.

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Star Trek apart, there is a worldwide movement which is being kept secret by the mass media as they do not want you to know that this type of society is possible.

I am guessing that if you are asking this question is because you are probably asking yourself another... "why does society have to be the way it is when it could be so much better?"

I welcome you to the global awakening, more and more people are asking themselves the same questions everyday and the best thing is that there are solutions.

And to me that is called The Venus Project, or the Zeitgeist Movement which are based in a Resource Based Economy.

Please watch this film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg

Violence, war, racism, religious crimes are all consequences of our current system, a child is not born with hate for others, or with greed, or cruelty.

I hope you enjoy the film and watch the other one on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qe03mYVfmg

Money is modern slavery, we need to end this BS and that can only happen when we reach critical mass and take control back from our governments who are just evil corrupt thieves, those films will explain to you why things are the way they are and solutions.

Other films like that you might like are

Thrive

The American Dream (by the provocateur network)

Money Masters

Inside Job (about the corruption in the finance sector and it will make you angry to see it)

Hope that enlightens you, please share them with your friends.

Peace and solidarity to you.

The other answer was very complete. I only want to add that for some planets there is a barter system set up and for the ferengi it is ladnum (I think that is it or latinum). Otherwise it does seem to be a Utopian society depending on where you work and live. On the ship everyones needs are met so there isn't need for payment. Everyone works and everyone is provided for. Things like energy cells, food, tools, etc. are used to trade when on other planets. Parts of ships, etc seem to be what they carry most in their cargo hold. Otherwise it sort of seems like a 'who and what you know type of thing'. One culture wants peace with another, or to share a planet peacebly with another, or establish a 'non war zone', or trade routes. Nothing different from this day and age.

And the Federation seemed to know everyone.