Star Trek Is Not Socialist

From FEE.org:

Star Trek presents the idea of a better future for humanity. But it’s because of technological advances rather than redistributive government policies. It’s a future where most needs and wants are no longer scarce and can be easily provided for. But, most important of all, it’s a future that protects the rights of the individual rather than bulldozing them at the whim of politicians who arbitrarily decide what’s best for the community. Individual freedom is the foundation of the Federation’s values. [read more]

The author goes on to say in the Star Trek universe scarcity is almost gone. Almost is the key word because there is certain things the replicator cannot replicate.  Other instances of capitalism rather than socialism:

• In Star Trek, Earth and the United Federation of Planets protect the rights of people and businesses.
• The twelfth guarantee covers intellectual property rights and establishes an artist as the person who created an original artistic work (ST: Voyager later has those rights expanded to holograms in the episode “Author, Author”).
• In Star Trek 3, McCoy tries to hire a smuggler with a ship and pay him with money. We also see that genuine antiques are an item people want and cannot replicate because it won’t be the real thing, such as in the DS9episode “In the Cards,” when a 1951 Willie Mays mint condition baseball card is up for auction and latinum (this like gold—it cannot be replicated) is the only payment accepted.