For myself I have been here for many years until I joined. Even after joining I know I have in my odd way helped (and probably hindered equally well) new members and the community...and I'm most certainly one of the "horde" ...heck I don't think I qualify even for a vote.


For what my voice is worth...
I would like to say both marxian and chemist both have very good insights I agree with.
I take both and would say...the positives of both can be kept and the negatives shucked.
Marxian has it right...the fairness of : 1 voice = 1 vote is as pure as it gets to the truth of democracy proposed by the greeks.
Thereby the will of the people is truly enforced.
Sadly the after effect of having additional laws to tweak and fine tune the process end up usually destroying it.
The question is why? and how?
Frankly this is where as well I think chemist is near to being dead on the money.
1 voice = 1 vote doesn't work...yes. Why?
chemist is heading in the right direction...
1 voice =1 vote should work...marxian is correct ...it is the civil and fair way...proper way...but it essentially created a mess...why?

Here is the why and how.
and it has been stated...it's the people that get the votes that get into the positions of authority.
Some do a great job....some do nothing...some do worse.
But they were voted in.
Frankly I do believe in a pure democracy...tempered with good judgement.

Socrates believed that 1 voice = 1 vote was a recipe for disaster.
He believed that it makes no sense to hold a general vote for say ...the community dentist....or doctor...or fireman...or what ever specialist. But that is exactly what the ancient greeks did...
they voted in people who were not fit for the positions ...based purely upon votes...and always such open ended voting is coloured with personal feeling...how friendly....social ....easily swayed...corrupt....whether they were a friend...a family member...an enemy.....whatever.
Big mess.

The community should pick the best person for the job according to their talents at that job.
I understand that the karma meter here in a way acts as an automatic method of determining the most favourable candidates...
but I don't think it goes far enough.
The process isn't discriminating enough.
Hence we get some individuals in who are not what is required for the positions. Problems will always ensue.

I'm good at what I do...I would not for a second believe that I would make a good politician, lawyer or neuro-surgeon simply because I had enough votes.

To conclude ....yes I believe in 1 voice = 1 vote ....1 voice = 1 vote for the most compelling candidates whom everyone is aware that they can and will do the job competently and properly.

I'm not saying junk any part of any process that exists here.
But unless core issues are addressed all the gentle tweaking of process trying to fine tune a problem that at it's core IS the initial voting process and how candidates are chosen...it will remain a problem this community will have.