I think the writing is on the wall now, and has been for a while. Steem can still be something really world class, but it has failed to deliver on many fronts. I don't say that Steemit have failed to deliver (though they have) but that Steem has. And that's on all of us.

Now, I can hear the cheerleader types (some of which I like very much, don't get me wrong) saying look at all Steem has done for you, for us, for Ned! I agree, but any group of people can help themselves if they put their minds to it. If that's not obvious to you, and I think it isn't to many, you've been struck with some of the collective (no pun intended ;) ) amnesia going around about how "people power" is a real thing.

What is world class is building something that doesn't just work for a few prioritized members, it's something that is truly unique in providing a way for disparate groups of people to pitch in value and see that value grow. Too many people believe the following, unqualified:

Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite environment is either a madman or an economist. - David Attenborough

In fact, there will be near infinite growth until life is extinguished once and for all some dark day in the distant future. That is to say that life is growth. Homeostasis is quite another thing and does not preclude growth, but rather the growth and then death of lifeforms.

To wit, without growth, we are moving towards death. We have to though of course be very very careful about how we are measuring growth, but in a sense it doesn't matter. Death happens whether or not the dying creature realizes it or not.

I am not saying Steem is dying, but I am drawing some parallels here about the lack of growth, and I would go only as far as to say that by my limit knowledge and reasoning it seems that Steem is on the decline. I'm not talking about the price. I would be very happy with Steem priced at 10c or even 1c. No, it's about the cartel leadership (kind of baked into the system), the extensive reliance on backroom meetings, and of course @ned and his Steemit Inc. Outside of all of these conversations about what @ned and his hair are doing still looms the bread and butter issues of blockchain parameters and so on, --- i.e. the economics ---, which has been sidelined constantly with the promise of SMTs. So much for that.

I was having conversations about a Steem-based new blockchain from very early on in my 2 years here, it has always been a temptation for people. Don't like it here? Well it's open source so go fix it yourself and make your own playground. It's tantalizing but at this point it's worth mentioning just how much @ned and his crew have put into the system here. Yes they rely on the continued hobbyist work of posters, voters, bot writers, up to semi-professional witnesses and then the fully fledged pros, but work they did. It's been quite clear to anyone close to them that they do it for themselves, but then what business person doesn't? Life itself continues only by such self-vested actors. That's not to say many didn't benefit.

In any case I'll make my core statement:

It's time to create something entirely new

I believe that a new chain is the way to go here. It doesn't even need to be Steem code based, but it would be very cool if it were Steem community based, there are a lot of cool folks here. Of course that said, using the code as a basis, or at least learning from it, is very important. This is what I'm talking about with all that talk of "life" and so on. Life begets expression in new lifeforms, this is the natural way. Embrace it. Grow.

There will be many of you who will read this and say, pfft, off with you, I'm in for the long haul and quitting is for quitters. I agree with your sentiments, and I don't say the new building path is for everyone. I think there will likely be big rewards for the savvy who stick to their guns here and stick to the mission. I am not going to be one of them though because my analysis indicates that what you will end up reviving will be so different as to be something new.

While the big people here argue about and try to outdo each other with pious statements, it's clear to onlookers that a wedge is being driven, and those with their eyes open will see @ned at the blunt end pushing it in. Do not be surprised when he acts in his own interest.

Should we fork him and his accounts out? Should we not? Should he stop his power down? It's all a bit silly isn't it?

Holding @ned's stake ransom in exchange for desired behaviour is extortion, and tantamount to violence.

All you sensitive types, an important word there is "tantamount". A case could have perhaps been made closer to the time, but years later one cannot act on the premiss of ninja-mined stake. Sure that's a thorn that won't go away, but in everyone continuing to use the platform they have agreed that they are willing to operate on it's legitimacy.

The only principled decision is to let it be and roll with it. However I think at this point those leaders who have shown favor to the idea of modifying @ned or @steemit 's control of what their keys can do, they are morally bankrupt. From what I can see that include:

• @timcliff
• @thecryptodrive
• @steemed

What am I going to do about it?

I hereby forthwith do solemly as the behest of the...

^^^ are you tired of this kind of language in these witness statements? Am I. There is no power in this language guys. Grow up.

No, I'll say it this way. I'm put my vote of no confidence right here in this post. Or rather, half of my vote. Here is the first half of my master key for this account, @personz:

P5KKKF8WHmRv2N1uF4BzgnBYdn

In one week, after payout on this post, I'll post the other half. I would post it all at once but then anyone could change the contents of this post, and I'd like it to stick around, so I have to do it this way. Of course from now (or slightly from now, I'd perhaps still like to make a few more comments posts today) I'll be silent until then.

My account certainly has some value. 66 rep (lol), 2.5k followers, estimate dollar value today of $100 (though I'll transfer a bit more out), some rep on the street (though not after today no doubt!), this account is yours if you see the post first.

But that's not the point. The point is the vote of no confidence this signifies. After that I don't give a hoot about the value. I'm going to skip the gushing retrospective and just say that most of you guys rock and thank you. I will lurk and see you on the next ship.

--- Yours psuedononymously, --- personz