In TNG, Picard says that the Federation has evolved past a need for money. Indeed, we never see any.

In DS9 though, Quark talks a lot about bar tabs and costs. Surely O’Brien and Bashir don’t get free drinks, so how do they pay? I’d assume that any Ferengi worth his lobes won’t accept anything that can be replicated, so do Federation officers get a stipend of tradeable “value” when interacting with cultures that still expect payment?

I think there’s also a reference to Quark paying rent to Sisko for running the bar. Presumably that’s denominated in latinum. I wonder where it goes? Maybe the secret “Garak black ops” fund.

  • DrChaotica@startrek.website
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    1 year ago

    I’m thinking either Jake has some sort of allowance or stipend, and is exaggerating when he says he “doesn’t have money”

    I mean, having walking around money and having Mom-style “now that’s walking around money” (i.e. enough to buy a Willy Mays rookie card) are two different things.