There’s also just things, like, Picard “owns” a vineyard, because he inherited it. For those who don’t have generational wealth, how would one just get a vineyard if they want one? If they’re willing to put in the work themselves, is anyone just entitled to a large tract of fertile land in a temperate zone if they ask for it? Or can anyone just get a penthouse apartment in the heart of a major city if they want one?
Even if these things no longer have monetary value, they still have some sort of intrinsic value, and that means things to people. If the federation government can’t provide a vineyard or a penthouse to any aspiring vintner who asks for one just due to population and land/infrastructure limitations, that’s still scarcity of a sort.
i was thinking of that as well, like surely land would still have value. don’t know if it’s ever addressed though.
There’s also just things, like, Picard “owns” a vineyard, because he inherited it. For those who don’t have generational wealth, how would one just get a vineyard if they want one? If they’re willing to put in the work themselves, is anyone just entitled to a large tract of fertile land in a temperate zone if they ask for it? Or can anyone just get a penthouse apartment in the heart of a major city if they want one?
Even if these things no longer have monetary value, they still have some sort of intrinsic value, and that means things to people. If the federation government can’t provide a vineyard or a penthouse to any aspiring vintner who asks for one just due to population and land/infrastructure limitations, that’s still scarcity of a sort.