[...] the rule of law can be enforced arbitrarily, and sometimes in response to the desire to acquire the wealth of an accused person.

It's all about their pathetic little egos. Sure, they'll wrap it up with some rationalization like, "It's to keep you healthy!" or "It's to save your soul!" but in the end, the more folks who believe the way they do, the more comfortable that they are "right".

Let's face it, everything revealed within Star Trek (or most Sci-Fi for that fact) will eventually come to pass not because it's "going" to happen, but through hard work and effort from those who want to see that tech become reality.

And we don't have to pay for a private health insurance or a decent pension.