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DS9 s3e11 "Past Tense, Part I"
this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2026
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Unpopular opinion: Considering the fully automated luxury space communism Bashir has spent his whole life in, this is actually an incredibly tone-deaf thing for him to say. (Which is in character for early-seasons' Bashir, TBH. c.f. his introduction to Kira in the pilot.)
The writers intended a moral objection to preventable human suffering, but actually wrote the 24th century equivalent of "let them eat cake".
This happens occasionally when they're discussing the past in Star Trek. I'm reminded of some season 2 episode where they've lost power or whatever during an emergency and Pulaski tells them to make some splints. One doctor responds "that isn't medicine, that's barbaric" which gives me the same vibes.
I don't think the writers intended this, but it does give us a reminder that people always view the past through the lens of the present and it can be easy to dismiss or disparage the way people have lived throughout time.
Bones makes a similar, albeit accurate, comment in ST4. When they 1980's doctors are about to drill into Chekov's head to relieve pressure, and with the old lady on kidney dialysis