Choose now: will Steemit be a Libertarian paradise or an Objectivist dumpster fire?

Steemit has the potential to become the kind of Libertarian freehold that can make a major difference in the world. The ability to rise and fall on your own merits, to embrace non-violence and eschew aggression, and to participate in a society on a voluntary and not a compulsory basis prove that a decentralized system works and works well - all of these are Libertarian ideals, and they're all part of Steemit's DNA.

At the same time, this place has the potential for turning into an Objectivist nightmare as well. Rational self-interest might sound good in theory, but in practice it's largely a recipe for disaster. I know that sounds counter-intuitive considering how plenty of Libertarians hold up Ayn Rand as an exemplar, but let's not forget how much she loathed the movement.

So which way is it going to go? It's largely not up to the vast majority of Steemians. Sure, spammers and plagiarists are rampant right now, but they're just pissing in the wind. No, it's the whales that are at the tiller, and they need to guide this place as it grows.

Why Whales Are In Control

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, according to Robert A. Heinlein, who was notorious for his Libertarian views (and for being a legendary pervert).

Largely this is true. You're not gonna get something for nothing. "Garbage in, garbage out" is a favorite saying among devs and programmers for a reason. You can't begrudge whales because they have high voting power. How they got there is irrelevant; whether they were rewarded by the community for content or invested heavily with their own funds, they earned their position.

Why "In Control" Doesn't Mean Above Reproach

At the same time, whales are beholden to the community to help shape our community. With great voting power comes great curating responsibility, and if whales decide to adopt a more Objectivist approach, then the community will founder. Curation rewards will be centralized and concentrated among a few classes of content, subject to the whims of whales thinking only of themselves and not the entire community; soon the accusations of "circle jerks" won't just be envy and sour grapes. More Libertarian-minded whales will instead diversify their curation rewards out of a sense of equity and justice to ensure that rewards become and remain more decentralized, especially since this will support and grow the entire community.

In the end, there's room for both philosophies here. There will always be people who put themselves first and the community second. It's just human nature - besides, altruism taken to an extreme is the equivalent of self-harm. At the same time, building yourself up at the expense of the community might do well for you in the shorter term but will sabotage your potential for long-term growth; it's only if whales adopt a more Libertarian philosophical approach to Steemit will the platform truly flourish.

Anyway, this is the kind of shit I end up thinking about in the shower. Love to hear your own thoughts though!