Great post Stu! Still considering some of the questions you have laid out. These are not easy answers, some I am not qualified for. For one, I think we need a #democracy platform tied into #steem that allows users to individually vote on and discus needed changes, guidelines, and penalties anonymously without fear of reprisal.

My mind cannot solve these issues, but a unified transparent democratic system where one vote is one vote, that truly carries out the benevolent will of all steemians might be able to. SMT's should provide a solution to a system such as this. Now I could go into conspiracy mode, but nevermind that for now.

Lately I have been seeing suppression of #freedom , which is what I think a majority of us came to steem to avoid. Freedom should not be an exclusive luxury afforded only by the wealthy and powerful. But this is what steem is becoming should we do nothing and continue down our current path. Opinions the rich and powerful won't tolerate will be caste off into the void like they never existed.

I shouldn't of had to rewrite this post 9x out of fear of running into a shark with my surfboard. I can tell you for certain these fears limit my total interaction with the platform. Am I the only one that feels this anxiety on steemit? I feel like the benevolent side of this platform is being held back from its full potential by dark motivations and SMT's might help amplify the greatest aspects of steem.
Steem has the power!