a textbook example of the failure of pure democracy
In a pure democracy, I expect each adult to have one vote. On the forum, voting power depends on earned Merits, so it can't be a pure democracy.
I disagree, it is even worse. All that is, is another layer of democracy and enables even more nepotism. Merits are ironically do not support a meritocracy, but are more often used as pats on the head for people that agree with their positions, and an additional method of gatekeeping.