Changes

Negative characteristics are generally found only in alien races. In a typical episode, one alien race is trying to enslave another, and the Enterprise intervenes to restore balance. The principle of equality is thus applied universally, with the Declaration of Independence sometimes mentioned explicitly.<ref>"The Omega Glory", March 1, 1968. Watch Kirk read the Declaration of Independence [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b56e0u0EgQ here]. It's with feeling; He is obviously an American.</ref> In these episodes, the Federation stands in for the United States, while the villain species stands in for Communists or Nazis.<ref name=Cantor>Cantor, Paul A., ''Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization'', p. 46.</ref> In other episodes, an alien species is used to comment on imperfections in contemporary America. One episode depicts a species divided into two races by skin color.<ref>“Let This Be Your Last Battlefield”, Jan. 10, 1969.</ref> For one race, the left side is white, and right side is black. For the other race, these colors are reversed.<ref name=Cantor/>

Negative characteristics are generally found only in alien races. In a typical episode, one alien race is trying to enslave another, and the Enterprise intervenes to restore balance. The principle of equality is thus applied universally, with the Declaration of Independence sometimes mentioned explicitly.<ref>"The Omega Glory", March 1, 1968. Watch Kirk read the Declaration of Independence [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b56e0u0EgQ here]. It's with feeling; He is obviously an American.</ref> In these episodes, the Federation stands in for the United States, while the villain species stands in for Communists or Nazis.<ref name=Cantor>Cantor, Paul A., ''Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization'', p. 46.</ref> In other episodes, an alien species is used to comment on imperfections in contemporary America. One episode depicts a species divided into two races by skin color.<ref>“Let This Be Your Last Battlefield”, Jan. 10, 1969.</ref> For one race, the left side is white, and right side is black. For the other race, these colors are reversed.<ref name=Cantor/>

In the original series, the military nature of Starfleet combined with the need for adventure and dramatic conflict to limit the influence of Roddenberry's left-wing views. These episodes were recorded prior to the feminist era, so gender relations are according to nature and tradition. The early seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' suffered severely from the Roddenberry vision. For example, the character Q was used to parody God. Roddenberry’s skeptical view of religion was detailed in several dialogs between Q and Picard.<ref name=walker /> As Roddenberry’s health declined, Rick Berman's influence grew. He was promoted to executive producer during the third season of TNG. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', a Berman creation, broke with the Roddenberry vision in several ways. It included various flawed human characters, and we learned that Starfleet has a secret agency called Section 31 that was responsible for various atrocities.<ref name=walker />   

In the original series, the military nature of Starfleet combined with the need for adventure and dramatic conflict were sufficient to limit the influence of Roddenberry's left-wing views. These episodes were recorded prior to the feminist era, so gender relations are according to nature and tradition. The early seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' suffered severely from the Roddenberry vision. For example, the character Q was used to parody God. Roddenberry’s skeptical view of religion was detailed in several dialogs between Q and Picard.<ref name=walker /> As Roddenberry’s health declined, Rick Berman's influence grew. He was promoted to executive producer during the third season of TNG. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', a Berman creation, broke with the Roddenberry vision in several ways. It included various flawed human characters, and we learned that Starfleet has a secret agency called Section 31 that was responsible for various atrocities.<ref name=walker />   

As the citizens of the Federation have access to goods in unlimited supply, it does not have a conventional economy. However, various characters are depicted as running small businesses such as vinyards or restaurants, presumably just for the fun of it.<ref>Yglesias, Matthew, “[http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/11/18/star_trek_economy_federation_is_only_mostly_post_scarcity.html The Star Trek Economy: (Mostly) Post-Scarcity (Mostly) Socialism]", ''Slate''. Nov. 18, 2013.</ref> On the issue of money, the show is inconsistent. Some episodes claim that the Federation has abolished money, others depict  Federation citizens bartering for latinum, the Ferengi currency. The Ferengi are traders and businessmen and have an unfettered free market economy. Although it is never made clear what kind of economy the Federation itself has, the Ferengi and other races are depicted as envious of it.<ref>See e.g. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdiuRMK3UQ this video].</ref>

As the citizens of the Federation have access to goods in unlimited supply, it does not have a conventional economy. However, various characters are depicted as running small businesses such as vinyards or restaurants, presumably just for the fun of it.<ref>Yglesias, Matthew, “[http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/11/18/star_trek_economy_federation_is_only_mostly_post_scarcity.html The Star Trek Economy: (Mostly) Post-Scarcity (Mostly) Socialism]", ''Slate''. Nov. 18, 2013.</ref> On the issue of money, the show is inconsistent. Some episodes claim that the Federation has abolished money, others depict  Federation citizens bartering for latinum, the Ferengi currency. The Ferengi are traders and businessmen and have an unfettered free market economy. Although it is never made clear what kind of economy the Federation itself has, the Ferengi and other races are depicted as envious of it.<ref>See e.g. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdiuRMK3UQ this video].</ref>