Quark and The Rules of Acquisition

Image via Wikipedia

The character "Quark" in Star Trek Deep Space Nine is an alien called a Ferengi who has one purpose and that is to make a profit by following The Rules of Acquisition. I find it interesting that Earth, according to Star Trek lore, has evolved past the need for currency and simply works to better the human condition. While noble in sentiment, I find it hard to believe that humans could move beyond the need for gold or silver to pay for goods and services. All other species in the Star Trek Universe use gold pressed latinum as currency and it cannot be replicated therefore it is considered very valuable. Quark is constantly trying to acquire as much as possible but working in close alliance with the Federation Earth officers it would be difficult to turn a profit since they earn no wage. It would equally be difficult to work, not earn a wage, yet live in a place in which other worlds still pay for goods with latinum. The Federation does trade technology and service for other goods but I still wonder how Earth got to that point of not needing currency. The reason I muse this issue of money at all is because I have a great interest in economy and some friends who know a lot about the world economy send me e-mails on current economic trends. Right now in the world, a majority of world currencies are simply fiat and the only real currencies are the precious metals and more specifically gold and silver which do not devalue in distressed economic times and cannot be printed (replicated) at will. It would appear that the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition have been used by the central banks for many years now, and this could be laughable if it were not so tragic, but these are just my musings in these strange times we are living.

Here is a partial list of The Rules and the link to read more. Enjoy!

1. Once you have their money ... never give it back.
3. Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.
6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
6. A man is only worth the sum of his possessions. (From Enterprise, episode "Acquisition"; sloppy script-writing, as rule 6 (see above) was already given in DS9)
7. Keep your ears open.
8. Small print leads to large risk.
9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
16. A deal is a deal ... until a better one comes along.
17. A contract is a contract is a contract (but only between Ferengi).
18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.
19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
21. Never place friendship above profit.
22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
23. Nothing is more important than your health--except for your money.
27. There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.
31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother ... insult something he cares about instead.
33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
34. Peace is good for business.
35. War is good for business.
40. She can touch your lobes but never your latinum.
41. Profit is its own reward.
44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.
45. Expand, or die.

More Rules are HERE.