Whether true or not, that’s how I view TOS. I mean there’s literally an episode about half-black-half-white being racist to half-white-half-black people of their own species… many if not most episodes are extremely thinly veiled social commentary.

Seriously. Everyone at NASA I worked with loved Star Trek and was working towards that kind of future. They recognized the problems and challenges, but they really believed that future.

Although people in the commercial tech industry love to trot out sci fi references as if it's some kind of credential, they consistently get it wrong, making the dystopian stuff come true instead.

You just cannot get to The Federation by building SkyNet. It's not possible.

Average Voyager Episode: The Doctor travels to a capitalist society where he teaches the people about the need for universal health care as the Captain is holding a hearing on whether Q has a right to bodily autonomy.

Average DS9 episode: The Black captain is having visions from the prophets about fighting racism and his canonically trans best friend is talking with the first officer and chief engineer about their polycule.

Average TNG Episode: Will Riker is falling for a trans person from an agender society. Meanwhile, the genius Black disabled chief engineer and his autism-coded android best friend just saved another planet through science education.