In rec.arts.sf.science Jonathan Silverlight wrote:
Was it? All the pictures we see show a green and pleasant land with a
remarkably high standard of living. I've never understood why a redshirt
would risk a very unpleasant end given Star Trek's social setting,
either.

Why do people join the Army and risk an unpleasant end in the US today?
Not all enlistees are poor people with no prospects. Many of them are well
off and could easily enough get a safer job, but want to serve, or want
adventure, or whatever. There's no reason that would change just because
it's the 24th century.

--
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software