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Thanks. It's primarily an effort to integrate the real world
into the series. So much of SF on television tends to take place in a
vacuum. The leader of the Federation is always the leader of the
Federation, we rarely hear about squabbling, elections, economic
problems, dissident groups breaking away...and when we do it's usually
a misunderstanding or basically good people with a different agenda
that can be quickly resolved.

I think that integrating all of those elements lends an
atmosphere of verisimilitude to the story, making it all the more
*real*.

jms