@basicstoliving,

I hear ya.

You didn't write anything I haven't written a dozen times in comments sections around the blockchain. I concur that if something doesn't change, Steemit will get replaced by another crypto that adheres to Steemit's theoretical Central Premise: that Content Shall Be Compensated Commensurate With Its Quality. Once the Central Premise of any organization is breached, its raison d'etre disappears and its continued existence is short-lived.

With respect to Steemit, I hold out a modicum of hope. If Smart Media Tokens take off, it could radically re-order the concentration of wealth within Steemit. I'm very much awaiting Hardfork-20 to see if @ned has been listening to any of the complaints. Some of the whales also know there's a systemic problem that needs to be changed, and they have a lot to lose if it doesn't. Everything at the moment is so opaque that it's hard to predict the future. Indeed, I've been working on a plan for a couple of months that, if I could enact it (50/50), would change a A LOT of the dynamics of Steemit very quickly. The future of Steemit, or any other crypto for that matter, will not be determined by the current cast of characters. The CME and CBOE have already created derivatives for Bitcoin. NASDAQ appears to be interested in getting involved as well. Once all the infrastructure for institutional investment is in place (its close), EVERYTHING is going to change. The plethora of so called "crypto-trading-experts" will get slaughtered as they are introduced to the traders at Goldman Sachs et al. BTW: I used to run a currency-trading hedge fund.

I sent out my post to test the temperature and get feedback. I got a comment by @rakkasan84 that was in the same vein as you've described. Given his centrality in trying to organize vets on Steemit, his words carry weight.

So, here's a thought: Perhaps the net is being cast too widely.

Imagine the following: A system similar to what I described in my post EXCEPT, Membership is by-invitation-only. An initial Core Group of vets (say 25) is created. I guarantee the organizers of the Vets Project already know exactly who these people are. Each of these Initial Members would have the ability to invite outside vets (based upon an agreed-upon criteria). If an invitation is accepted, two other Members would review the invitee's history on Steemit and confirm/deny. Assuming a confirmation, the invitee would become a Member.

Instead of including all vets, and then trying to motivate them to participate once they're in, turn the process around and make them demonstrate a shared-ethos prior to them getting in. This would eliminate a lot of problems.

With a little creativity, we ought to be able to refine the basic idea to make it workable. I'd love to get your feedback. @rakkasan84 and the other organizers of the current Vets Group, I'd love to hear from you as well.

@shadow3scalpel @chairborne @guiltyparties @jackmiller @derangedvisions @chira @anarcho-andrei @patriot

Everyone else, feel free to chime in as well.