The Star Trek government is a benevolent communism that has eliminated capitalism, and everyone works for the good of humanity only. About as realistic as a flying sofa.
Not the Orginial, they still use credits. The Fexeration was molded on the US.
Not realistic to expect people to work "to better themselves".
They need money, too.
I'm sure even he expected to make (a lot) more than the guy cleaning the bathrooms.
Running his vineyard doesn't come cheap.
It’s the very core liberal idealism. It’s extremely contrary to human nature.
The key to the success if socialism is infinite resources, which is the replicator. If you can ask for anything at all, and that thing pops out of the machine at zero cost - then socialism works perfectly. Otherwise, no.
Sort of, but consider that the Enterprise is something like a battleship on the high seas. Not much room for free enterprise or individual initiative there — or in places where no man has gone before.