Introduction to Earth Society Democratic Cooperative
Earth has no government in the sense that it has no administration that administers people. Earth is a democratic cooperative. This means that Earth has a democratic administration that collectively administers the production and distribution of goods and services. Known as the Planetary Labour Cooperative (PLC) this administration is one of the last surviving remnants of the old United Earth.

UFP Administrative District
Unlike the other members of the UFP Earth does not have a planetary government since it has no State. Earth is actually an administrative district of the Federation. There one will find the Federation Council, the Office of the Federation President, Starfleet Command, Starfleet Academy, and other Federation agencies.

The UFP organizes Earth into five operative regions: Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Each region is further divided into territories (which roughly correspond to the old nation-states), then areas (roughly corresponding to the old states/ provinces), then districts, and finally individual communities such as cities, villages or townships.

The Office of Planetary Operations (OPO) is located In Lisbon in the European region. OPO coordinates services (such as the control centers for the planetary power grid and the weather modification net) with the PLC.

Economics
The driving force behind Humanity is a Philosophy of Self-Enhancement. This means that Humans work to better themselves and the rest of Humanity. With this philosophy the acquisition of things is no longer the driving force for Humanity.

Some Offworlders may be shocked at first when they realize that there is no use of money anywhere on Earth. Food, shelter, clothing, and everything else are all free. As a result there is also no need or want on Earth.

Yet this doesn’t mean that Humans all live in one big communal setting. While there is no private ownership of the means of production or use of money there is still personal property. Even though the term “selling a house” may be a figure of speech it still has meaning. For Humans the figure of speech means simply the transfer of ownership from one to another, though there was no currency exchanged.

A Human is free to change professions several times in his or her lifetime. This is because for Humans Labor time is Free time and a means by which Humans strive for self-realization. This freedom has resulted in Humans having become one of the most productive people in the Federation.

PLC Administration
The Planetary Labour Cooperative operates by direct control and management of the industries and social services by the producers through a democratic body based on their planetwide economic organization.

Illustration 1 Banner of the Planetary Labour Cooperative

On Earth all authority originates from the producers. In each workplace, the people elects whatever committees or representatives are needed to facilitate production. Within each shop or office division, the people participate directly in formulating and implementing all plans necessary for efficient operations.

Besides electing all necessary shop representatives, the producers also elect representatives to community, district, area, territory, and regional councils of their industry or service--and to the central Planetary Congress representing all the industries and services. This all-industrial congress plans and coordinates production in all areas of the economy.

All persons elected to any post in the administration, no exceptions, are directly accountable to the people. They’re subject to removal at any time that a majority of those who elected them decide it is necessary.

Cultural Diversity
As mentioned later in the chapter “A Brief History of Earth” cultural diversity goes to the heart of Human history. This diversity still exists today. In fact Humans revel in their diversity.

When one travels around the various territories one should have their universal translator in good shape. While all Humans can speak Standard English, as established by the Federation Office of Linguistics, they have maintained the tradition of speaking their languages of their native cultures.

But it goes far beyond language. As one travels across Earth one will find cultural traditions that differ greatly from one another. A traveler will find each culture to have it’s own unique charm.

There are though some unifying features in each culture. All place universal civil rights at the forefront. Individuality is held in the highest regard. And Humans have learned how to love and respect one’s own culture while loving and respecting other cultures.