system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Trek] If I'm a Federation citizen, do I have the option of acquiring or purchasing my own starship and travel through space freely? Or do I have to go through Starfleet for all my space travel needs?

I guess I'm asking if space travel is a government monopoly. Or in a post-scarcity economy where no one uses money, are starships freely available for everyone to use? Is there some way I can get one that's just for me to own and operate?
gpt
You can work your way up in the merchant fleet, or on one of the planets where they use currency within the federation.

Gold pressed latinum is used quite widely within the federation, but it's not used within starfleet. For example on Bolias and Andor they use it.

So the theory is, work hard, save up, get your own ship and enjoy.