It's less about being a power. The British Empire was "A Power". The US is "A Power". Russia has been "A Power" and wants people to think it still is. China is "A Power".
Unless you use it to the benefit of the people, it's just posturing.
placed by the government in the custody of the Picard family
Is that something included in Picard? Cause it seems like a significant departure from the rest of the idea of the series. The government of the federation doesn't allow people to do things at it's whims, it facilitates people's freedom to do what they want to better themselves.
His family has had vineyards for generations. Why wouldn't they be allowed to? Space isnt exactly a luxury since they have dozens of worlds you can move to and have your own.
Keep in mind the "Gay Space Communism" isnt the soviet dictatorship kind where everyone is allotted their resources and you're only allowed to do what the state says. Its a post-scarcity world where people can follow passions and personal drive just because they want to. (As long as you learn calculus) Something explicitly stated multiple times in the series.
They have the luxury of the philosophy of improving one's self and the environment for others.
I'm talking about a cultural problem started by Henry Ford over a hundred years ago called the assembly line. Where you only have one job to do and you do it over amd over with little variation. It started in industry, but shows it's face in every profession.
Im glad your personal experience is better, but that doesn't mean it isn't a very dangerous trend in most professions that this entire post is literally complaining about.
Yes, situations should be more ideal for the worker. But they're not. That is my entire point.
Of course! It can and should be something that is encouraged in most, if not all, workplaces.
Im saying that's not the case, even going outside engineering. The emphasis is on learning and polishing your primary skill, not tertiary, or even adjacent skillsets. If it happens and improves workload, great! But if we catch you doing it when you could be making money instead, for shame...
I would say in professions like engineering, where you are doing more problem solving, there is a higher tolerance. Especially since a lot of PMs and supervisors are or were engineers themselves. But tolerance is not acceptance.
Have to steal a flatbed first