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RE: [EP96] Why can't the witnesses pay for Steem Blockchain Development?
The STEEM witnesses take all the risk by investing in the hardware and paying for power. This is a classic tax the rich perspective. The growth of this blockchain is organic, let it grow, you came in early, enjoy the ride :). Steemit Inc owns the Rights to the Intellectual property of the coin, no one has a right to come in and augment their platform. Just like when you own a business, employees aren't forced into your business, you hire them under your own discretion.
I think it's more of an investment than a tax. They'd be investing in the development of the blockchain, which would benefit their own interests.
I totally get what you're saying about a business... but I'm not sure it's accurate in this case. My understanding is that the Steem Blockchain is open source. The witnesses can branch off at any time using a version of the code that literally anyone can develop... if half the witnesses branched off tomorrow, we'd end up with two blockchains... but it's everyone's best interests to play nicely together.
I'm not saying we should force the witnesses to do anything... what I'd like is a system where we vote for the witnesses that help fund the development of the blockchain. The higher the donations, the higher on the witness list they are.
Instead, we have really 2 accounts that decide who is and who isn't in the Top 19. One of which is a witness themselves.