Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Past Tense, Part I

How funny... the writers (back in 1995!) were trying to portray some impossible, dystopian Earth from the Star Trek universe. A bit too close to home, I'd say!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• star trek
• deep space nine
• irony
• america
• great recession
• unemployment
• 1995

[tahoeskiier]

Wow. I just googled this after watching the ds9 episode on netflix. I thought, wow its happening now. The very end scene on ds9 has dr asking cisco "how did it ever get this bad", Cisco replies "I dont know". Well cisco, you would be happy to know that your first black president had a lot to do with it. I am glad this clip is up. They always say that star trek would predict the future.

[Alan123123123]

Occupy movement!

[edwardjosephoshea]

Occupy?

[Sin526]

"21st century history's not one of my strong points... too depressing"

I'd say the good doctor was spot on with that one, at least so far.

[ravenwrith]

In all due honesty--this is the 'good' scenario. The encampments here are a shitty, deplorable, almost immoral measure to house people who don't have a job, don't have a home, or have medical problems they can't afford; but it is a measure.

The situation WE are likely to get stuck with with our do-nothing-government with members full on intending to run it into the ground, is to have millions starving in the street, and do nothing about it.

[jakep1979]

Damn I was thinking about that episode today given the current situation in the world and where we are sliding to in the near future.

[ComradeF]

@worldslinger81 Whether or not it happens exactly as shown in this clever bit of fiction, it's still creepy that most of the things the Captain describes are occurring, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale. I don't think we're actually seeing any "Sanctuary" districts popping up just yet, but as the unemployed population runs out of money... what then? Our nation can't handle its current financial responsibilities, let alone the added responsibility of housing non-contributing members of society.

[worldslinger81]

@worldslinger81 You don't know that. The fact is that it would be very, very hard for the government to do this. The ACLU and about a dozen other civil rights groups would sue. I'm not saying it won't happen I'm just saying you are being a bit premature.

[acer3573]

@worldslinger81 More people are losing their homes. Tent cities are increasing in number. The unemployment rate hasn't gone down in months. The government seems unable to do anything significant to help. Discontent is rising. It's only a matter of time before the current conditions lead to "suggested 'temporary' solutions" like this.

[worldslinger81]

@time391 A little too early to say that, don't you think? When this actually happens or something close to it, then you can say that.