It is almost like the same script with Digg is at work. Make a platform where people can discuss, it becomes popular because people love to talk, corporate and political forces game the system, power and money attract control freaks, control freaks start shitting up the system, average user grows discontented, shit keeps getting worse until an alternative comes along and the bleeding begins.

We just need A. handle an exodus and B. prevent mod capture by control freaks.